Defending champion Madison Keys conquered a significant case of opening-day nerves to launch her Australian Open title defence with a hard-fought victory over Ukrainian debutante Oleksandra Oliynykova in Melbourne.
A Rocky Start on Rod Laver Arena
The American, who secured her maiden Grand Slam triumph on the same court a year ago, found herself in immediate trouble against the world number 147. Keys lost the first four games of the match, staring at a potential disaster as Oliynykova seized her moment on the big stage.
"The moment they say, 'Ready, play', it kind of all hits you in a way that I don't think you can ever really explain to someone," a relieved Keys admitted after the match. She managed to claw her way back into the set, forcing a tie-break where she had to save two set points before finally clinching it 8-6.
Oliynykova's Powerful Motivation
For 25-year-old Oliynykova, the match was about far more than tennis. The Ukrainian, who still lives and trains in her war-torn homeland, revealed her father is currently fighting against the Russian invasion. She has risen over 200 ranking places since he joined the military, driven by his dream to see her compete at this level.
"I'm so proud of him," Oliynykova said. "Actually, this is something that is keeping me motivated even more." She described the perilous conditions she left behind, including a drone strike near her home the night before travelling to Melbourne. "My apartment was literally shaking because of the explosion," she shared, highlighting her ongoing mission to raise awareness.
Straight-Sets Wins and Early Exits
Elsewhere on Tuesday 20 January 2026, it was a smoother day for other top seeds. Former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and American hope Ben Shelton both progressed with straight-sets victories.
However, the tournament witnessed another injury retirement, as Belgian Raphael Collignon was forced to quit during his match against fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti. Teenage sensation Joao Fonseca also fell at the first hurdle, losing in four sets to American Eliot Spizzirri.
For Keys, the 7-6 (6) 6-1 scoreline ultimately reflected her ability to settle and dominate once the initial pressure subsided. She reflected on the unique privilege of walking out as defending champion, stating, "Being able to walk out today and have the crowd be as welcoming as they were, I'll take the stress any day." Her title defence is officially underway.
