By Richard Pagliaro Wednesday, January 21, 2026
Image source: Australian Open Facebook
Madison Keys The recent offseason has been spent renovating her home.
Defending Australian Open champion Keys continues to revolutionize her game at the right time in the first week of her title defense.
Keys saved a set point from 2-5 down in the second set and defeated his compatriot in five games. Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 advanced to the third round of AO.
“I thought I got off to a really good start, but I thought Ashlyn started off a little slow and I fully expected her to step up and she did,” Case said. “It got away from me very quickly. I really wanted, even if I lost the set, to try to get back in the set.
“Once I get that motivation, I just try to focus on the game and do whatever I can to get back in the game.”
a red heat Jessica Pegula Defeated her doubles partner in eight consecutive games, McCartney Kessler6-0, 6-2, advancing to the third round of AO for the fifth time.
Pegula, a three-time AO quarterfinalist, allowed just five runs in two tournament wins.
“I thought I had a very clean game and did exactly what I wanted
“Maybe, you know, she got some help coming down the stretch, but at the same time, you know, she was able to have a super clean race and do what I wanted to do from start to finish,” Pegula said.
“You know, when those days come, you carry on with those things until the next day because it doesn’t happen very often. She’s a very crafty player and a good competitor. I guess, I’m glad I didn’t experience a lot of drama.”
2024 U.S. Open finalist Pegula will play Oksana Selehmeteva In the third round. Selekhmeteva surprises in 2025 semi-finals Paola Badosa,6-4,6-4.
If sixth-seeded Pegula wins, she could face Keys in the round of 16 if the seeding team stays in good shape.
Keys participated in the main draw of a Grand Slam for the 50th time and advanced to the third round of AO in his 10th game.
It was Case’s ninth consecutive victory in Melbourne.
The 30-year-old American will face former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova or Indonesian Janice Janis to return to the last 16.
Today’s first meeting between Keys and Krueger felt like two different games.
Keith commanded the opening. Keys hit seven consecutive winners with a threatening forehand and successfully converted all three break points to take a set lead after 23 minutes.
Kruger, ranked 92nd, struggled to control his forehand in the first set but played more calmly and accurately in the second.
Trailing 1-2, Kruger broke serve in four consecutive games to lead 5-2.
The 21-year-old Kruger was serving for a 5-2 lead when Keys hit four forehand winners in the eighth game.
The Dallas native Kruger served again at 5-4 in the second set, but she betrayed her goal by conceding three double faults, including one on the third break point. Keys saved a set point with a forehand winner and tied the score after 10 games.
When Keys tied the game, she coaxed away a series of Kruger errors in the final two games of the game, which lasted 73 minutes.
Keys looked inconsistent at times – she faced at least one set point in two of the four sets, including a 7-6(6), 6-1 victory over the Ukrainian Oleksandra Olynikova in the first round – but the champion still stands.
Hall of Famer Andre Agassi famously said, “You can’t win a Grand Slam title in week one, but you can lose it.”
Keys continues to modify her game with the goal of making it to Week 2 again.
