MELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys struggled early however held on to defeat Oleksandra Oliynykova and her offbeat fashion of sport 7-6 (6), 6-1 in a first-round match Tuesday on the Australian Open.
Ninth-seeded Keys, enjoying in her fiftieth Grand Slam event, dug herself right into a deep gap at Rod Laver Area. She trailed 4-0 within the first set and rallied to pressure a tiebreaker towards the Ukrainian.
Oliynkyoka, enjoying in her first Grand Slam foremost draw, additionally raced to a 4-0 lead within the tiebreaker however did not money in on two set-point alternatives.
“Clearly I used to be very nervous initially,” Keys stated. “As nervous as I used to be . . . I am actually glad to be again, and that I acquired by means of that match.”
Keys praised Oliynykova, who signed autographs, accepted loud applause, and waved a Ukrainian flag on-court after the match.
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“My opponent right now was unimaginable,” Keys stated. “She began so nicely. Such an ideal competitor. She undoubtedly made it tough for me.”
Oliynykova stored Keys off stride, notably within the first set, with random pictures, which included excessive lobs — moon pictures — that pressured Keys deep behind the baseline. The Ukrainian’s robust protection and unorthodox play additionally stored her within the match early.
“A bit of bit extra of like an unconventional fashion,” Keys stated. “I really feel like that made issues somewhat additional tough initially. I felt like on the finish of the tiebreaker I actually type of discovered my sport after which was capable of carry that into the second set.”
Oliynykova, who featured various facial and different tattoos which she stated had been solely momentary — they wash off — admitted that her fashion of play can throw opponents off.
“Since I began my professional 12 months profession, I used to be listening to that I cannot be in prime 1,000, then in prime 500, in prime 300, and in prime 100.” stated Oliynykova, who’s ranked 92nd. “All these folks telling me that I will not be capable to progress with this sport fashion.
“However, truly, you recognize, my concept is to do my ‘bizarre’ issues on court docket, however to be the most effective participant with this sort of sport. I imply, I noticed right now that even for top-of-the-line gamers on the earth, it might be actually uncomfortable.”
For the final night time match at Rod Laver Area, Naomi Osaka made a grand entrance sporting a wide-brim hat, veil and holding a white parasol.
The four-time main winner went on to beat Antonia Ruzic 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, and later defined the inspiration for her design.
“It is modeled after a jellyfish,” Osaka stated. “I am simply so grateful I get to do the issues I really like.”
In different ladies’s matches, No. 10 Belinda Bencic opened with a 6-0, 7-5 win over Katie Boulter, however two seeded ladies’s gamers had been crushed. Indonesian Janice Tjen beat Twenty second-seeded Leylah Fernandez of Canada 6-2, 7-6 (1) and Tereza Valentova of Czech Republic defeated Australia’s top-ranked ladies’s participant, Thirtieth-seeded Maya Joint, 6-4, 6-4.
Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens was knocked out within the first spherical, crushed by Karolina Pliskova 7-6 (7), 6-2. Stephens, who needed to qualify this 12 months, received the US Open in 2017.
Data from The Related Press contributed to this report.
