Madison Keys reaches Australian Open third round

Madison Keys of the U.S. waves after defeating compatriot Ashlyn Krueger in their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Madison Keys said she drew on her experience as defending champion to pull through a danger moment and make the Australian Open third round on Thursday, rattling off five straight games to secure victory.

Keys, who upset Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, blew hot and cold against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger before getting over the line 6-1, 7-5.

READ: Madison Keys makes shaky start to Australian Open title defense

It set up a clash with former semi-finalist Karolina Pliskova after the Czech ended the dreams of Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in straight sets.

“I think in those tough kind of moments like today, getting down in that second set, just kind of reminding yourself that you have been here before, you figured it out,” Keys said.

Madison Keys, right, of the U.S. is congratulated by compatriot Ashlyn Krueger, left, following their second round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

“I think when you’re able to do that in a place where you have had success, it just feels like it comes a little bit easier.”

Keys admitted after her laboured first-round win that she was a bundle of nerves and “too timid”.

READ: Madison Keys vows to enjoy the ride in Australian Open defense

The 29-year-old threw off the shackles in the first set against the 92nd-ranked Krueger, taking it in just 23 minutes on John Cain Arena before having to rally from 2-5 down in the second.

“I started really well and Ash a little slowly,” said Keys, who began her season with quarter-final exits at Brisbane and Adelaide.

“I fully expected her to raise her level and she did. But it just got away from me a little quickly.

“Then once I got that momentum (back), I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”

After taking more than an hour to win the first set in her opening round, Keys broke on three occasions against Krueger to storm through it this time.

Hitting well and pushing her opponent around the court, the ninth seed looked ominous and held to love in opening her second set account.

But Krueger, consulting a book at the changeovers, upped her intensity and against the odds broke Keys to lead 3-2 after the champion’s serve imploded, double-faulting three times.

Keys was broken again, to love and once more on a double-fault, to slump 5-2 behind.

However, she gathered herself to reel off five straight games and stay in the title hunt.