Australian Open: Keys Defeats Rybakina, Advances to Face Svitolina
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Synopsis
Madison Keys, ranked No. 19, advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the fourth time by defeating No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina. Keys will compete against Elina Svitolina next, seeking her third semifinal appearance at Melbourne Park.
Key Takeaways
- Madison Keys reaches quarterfinals.
- Defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets.
- Keys on a nine-match winning streak.
- Next match against Elina Svitolina.
- Historic head-to-head record favors Keys.
Melbourne, Jan 20 (NationPress) Seeded No. 19, American Madison Keys has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the fourth time in her career after defeating No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan on Monday.
Keys overcame a dip in performance during the second set to triumph over the 2023 Australian Open finalist Rybakina with a score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-3, in a match lasting 1 hour and 49 minutes. The American player is now just one victory away from securing her third semifinal appearance at Melbourne Park, having previously reached the final four in 2015 and 2022.
Having clinched the WTA 500 title in Adelaide just a week earlier, Keys is currently on a nine-match winning streak and leads the tour in match victories for the year with an impressive overall record of 10-1 in 2025, as per WTA statistics.
The 29-year-old will face No. 28 seed Elina Svitolina, who staged a remarkable comeback from a double-break deficit in the first set to defeat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 earlier in Rod Laver Arena.
Keys holds a slight edge in their head-to-head matchup with a 3-2 record against Svitolina. Their last encounter took place nearly three years ago in Australia, where Keys triumphed over then-No. 2 seed Svitolina in the first round of the WTA 250 event in Adelaide in 2022, eventually securing the title.
Svitolina reached consecutive Australian Open quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019. Last year, she entered the tournament in strong form but was forced to retire in her fourth-round match against Linda Noskova after just three games due to a back injury.
Throughout the season, Svitolina battled various physical challenges, ultimately cutting her campaign short after the US Open to undergo foot surgery. This tournament marks her return following that procedure.
