<figure id="attachment_3263593" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3263593" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3263593" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/b73326fb-madison-keys-22012026.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3263593" class="wp-caption-text">Madison Keys returns the ball to Ashlyn Krueger during their women&#8217;s singles second-round match at the Australian Open tennis tournament. (EPA Images pic)</figcaption></figure>
MELBOURNE: Defending champion Madison Keys overcame struggles with her game to advance to the third round of the Australian Open with a 6-1, 7-5 win over fellow American Ashlyn Krueger at Melbourne Park on Thursday.
The 30-year-old was once again less than convincing in her victory, two days after labouring in a first-round win over Ukrainian Grand Slam debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova.
Keys took 23 minutes to claim the opening set with a confident display that saw the American hit seven winners and convert all three break points against her compatriot in a one-sided start to the contest.
But the current world number nine allowed doubts to creep into her game in the second set, handing Krueger two breaks in serve with a succession of double faults that allowed the 21-year-old to open up a three-game lead.
Keys responded, however, by winning five games in a row to close out the match and progress to the next round.

MatchPoint Times

Defending champion Keys survives mid-set wobble to advance

Madison Keys beat fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 at Melbourne Park to advance to the third round of the Australian Open.

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