Madison Keys lets return game do the talking in Australian Open win over Elena Rybakina

Madison Keys is known for packing a one-two punch on the court her serve and follow-up shot combination.

But it was her return game that did the loudest talking Monday in an Australian Open battle featuring two of the WTA’s most fearless ball-strikers. Taking on sixth seed Elena Rybakina, Keys surged ahead for a 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory.

Her management of Rybakina’s greatest asset was a considerable deciding factor, as the 19th seed won 25 of 38 points off her opponent’s second serve in breaking the 2023 runner-up five times from nine opportunities. Keys slammed the door shot with a screaming inside-out forehand return winner to clinch the win after one hour and 49 minutes.

“I really had just had to focus on getting as many returns in play today. Her serve is such a weapon,” Keys said on court afterwards. “I knew that if I could just try to make at least some of her service games competitive, I had a chance.

“My return was a really big part of my game today.”

The 29-year-old upped her win streak to nine matches, having triumphed in Adelaide ahead of the season’s opening major. It’s been a decade since Keys broke through with a maiden semifinal at Melbourne Park, as she now stands a win away from making it three overall here.

Asked about her best memory to date at the event, Keys admitted her two prior final-four appearances were contrasting experiences—the latter versus top-ranked home favorite Asheligh Barty resulting in a 6-1, 6-3 defeat when Keys was unseeded three years ago.

“Making my first semifinal here was absolutely amazing. Eventually losing to the champion, Serena, that was, I think, the first time that I played her. It was incredible to be able to play someone who has meant so much to me and the game. I think that was probably one of the best ones,” reflected the American.

“Losing to Ash wasn’t. That was one that I tried to forget.”

In the quarterfinals, Keys meets Elina Svitolina. The 28th seed cooled off Veronika Kudermetova, 6-4, 6-1, to equal her 2018-19 performances at the Happy Slam. Svitolina is bidding to make her first major semifinal since ousting Iga Swiatek in the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinals.