Australian Open: Keys dismantles Rybakina to tee up Svitolina clash

Madison Keys claimed a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory over Elena Rybakina to secure her place in the Australian Open quarter-finals.

Rybakina, the sixth seed at Melbourne Park, had looked in fine form in the early rounds, but came into Monday's clash with Keys at Margaret Court Arena carrying a back issue.

Her American opponent took full advantage, playing with power and purpose in the opening set and, despite an excellent response from 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina, Keys regained control in the decider.

A brilliant service game put Keys 5-3 up in set three, and the 19th seed - who won in Adelaide on the eve of the season's first major - rallied back from 30-0 down to move within a break point of victory in a thrilling final game.

Keys sliced into the net as her first chance went begging, before an excellent Rybakina volley put the Kazakh ahead.

Yet Keys hit back immediately, and after an unforced error from Rybakina handed her a second bite at the cherry, the 29-year-old did not pass up another opportunity, sealing her win with a thumping forehand winner.

Absolutely aggressive, MAD tennis there by Keys Extends her winning streak to nine matches and is through to the #AO2025 quarterfinals!@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/i4aFnG9Qu6

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2025

Next up for Keys is Elina Svitolina, who beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-1.

Data Debrief: Madison finds the keys to victory

"I knew if I could make some of her service games competitive, I'd have a chance. My return was a really big part of my game today," said Keys, who struck three return winners and broke Rybakina five times.

Rybakina had only been broken twice across her first three matches.

Since the start of 2015, only Serena Williams (16), Simona Halep (13) and Svitolina (12) have made more grand slam quarter-finals than Keys (11, equalling Aryna Sabalenka and Karolina Pliskova over that span).

Keys is the first player with a 10-year gap between their first (2015) and last (2025) singles quarter-finals at the Australian Open since Victoria Azarenka (2010-2023).