Madison Keys Seeks More Success After Australian Open Win

MIAMI — After a significant breakthrough at the Australian Open, Madison Keys returns to the court with high expectations for the Miami Open. The newly crowned champion, who once dreamed of this achievement as a child, spoke about her desire to build on her success. “I think in a lot of ways, it’s made me want more — because that was very fun,” Keys said during a press conference prior to the tournament.

Now seeded No. 5, Keys has jumped from No. 21 at the start of the season to the top of the PIF Race to the WTA Finals, placing her ahead of World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and 17-year-old sensation Mirra Andreeva. She boasts an impressive record of 19 wins in her last 21 matches this season and has claimed titles in both Adelaide and Melbourne.

Keys dominated Elina Avanesyan 6-3, 6-3 in their match on Friday, advancing further in the tournament. Her next opponent is Alexandra Eala, a surprising wild card who recently overcame No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko with a score of 7-6(2), 7-5.

Despite her success, Keys recently faced a disappointing defeat at Indian Wells where Sabalenka avenged her Australian Open loss with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory. “For me, the loss last week, it just felt very frustrating. I couldn’t find my game,” Keys remarked, reflecting on the experience.

Understanding the emotional toll of her losses, Keys expressed a desire to maintain a broader perspective on her season. “I think there’s also the perspective of just looking at the big picture of the year,” she added. “I’ve had a lot of really great matches.”

In the Miami Open, she faces Eala, who is looking to make history as the first Filipino player to defeat a Grand Slam champion at the WTA level. Keys, who has been a professional player for over half her life, noted the evolving nature of her career. “Obviously, it’s a huge achievement… I feel like I’ve just tried to continually build on that,” Keys said.

Meanwhile, Ashlyn Krueger also made headlines at the Miami Open, advancing to the Round of 16. The 20-year-old secured a straight-sets victory over Leylah Fernandez, showcasing her potential as she seeks her first WTA 1000 title. Krueger’s performance reflects her aggressive playing style, registering a total of 69 winners throughout the match.

In her career-best performance, Krueger can now add this victory to those against ranked players, including Elena Rybakina and Renata Zarazua earlier this season. Reflecting on her rising success, Krueger stated, “The winning is nice and it means that everything I’m putting in off the court is working.”

As the tournament progresses, both Keys and Krueger represent the emerging talent on the American tennis scene, each eager to make their mark in Miami.