'Timid' Keys opens title defense with shaky start

MELBOURNE — A jittery Madison Keys said Tuesday she was "too timid" after getting the defense of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt.

The American ninth seed was a bundle of nerves in the Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (6), 6-1 win over Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Keys stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, but she failed to push on in 2025, winning no more titles.

She started her season with quarterfinal exits at Brisbane and Adelaide, admitting before the Grand Slam to being nervous as the defending champion.

"I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct," she said.

"I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do.

"That was really slowing down my footwork as well. I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do."

Playing at her 50th Grand Slam, in contrast to Oliynykova who was at her first, Keys sent down three double faults and was broken on her first service game.

The Ukrainian, ranked 92nd and facing a player inside the top 50 for the first time, consolidated with a hold after six deuces in the second game to take charge.

Showing no nerves, she stunned the American by breaking again and raced 4-0 clear before Keys finally woke up and battled back.

She cut down on the errors and found her range on serve to win the next five games.

But Keys was broken again and it went to a tiebreak, where she slumped 4-0 behind and had to save two set points before converting for the set with a blistering cross-court winner.

The gritty comeback was the catalyst for a far more convincing second set, breaking straight away and racing into a 4-0 lead before sealing the match with ease after one hour and 40 minutes.

Despite the shaky start, Keys said it was a privilege to be back as defending champion.

"I have been thinking of that moment for basically a year," she said of returning to the scene of her greatest triumph.

"I was talking to (multiple Grand Slam winner) Lindsay Davenport yesterday.

"She reminded me that not many people get to be a defending champion at a Grand Slam, so I am just trying to embrace it and enjoy it.

"And, as nervous as I was at the start, I'm really glad to be back and to win that match."

Keys praised Oliynykova, who signed autographs, accepted loud applause, and waved a Ukrainian flag on-court after the match.

"My opponent today was incredible," Keys said. "She started so well. Such a great competitor. She definitely made it tricky for me."

Oliynykova, who featured a number of facial and other tattoos which she said were only temporary — they wash off — admitted that her style of play can throw opponents off.

"Since I started my pro career, I was hearing that I will not be in top 1,000, then in top 500, in top 300, and in top 100," said Oliynykova.

"All these people are telling me that I won't be able to progress with this game style.

"But, actually, you know, my idea is to do my 'weird' things on court, to be the best player with this type of game.

"I mean, I saw today that even for one of the best players in the world, it could be really uncomfortable."

Slice of winnings

Carlos Alcaraz's new-look serve at the Australian Open has been compared to Novak Djokovic and the Serbian great joked he is expecting a slice of the Spanish superstar's winnings.

World No 1 Alcaraz has at times struggled with precision and a lack of consistency in his serving technique and has mixed it up for the opening Grand Slam of the year.

Eagle-eyed fans noticed that his more compact action now bears a striking resemblance to Djokovic, who was asked about it after coasting into the second round at Melbourne Park.

"As soon as I saw it, I sent him a message. I said, 'we have to speak about the copyrights'," the 24-time major winner joked.

"Then when I saw him here, I told him we have to talk about a percentage of his winnings.

"Every ace I expect, you know, a tribute to me. Every ace that he makes here. Let's see if he's going to stick to the agreement."

Asked about his new serve ahead of the tournament, Alcaraz said he was flattered by the comparison to Djokovic, but insisted it was a coincidence.

"No, I didn't think about, or I wasn't thinking about making the same serve as Djokovic," he told reporters. "But at the end, even I can see the similarities."

Agencies