Madison Keys said she drew on her experience as defending champion to overcome a dangerous moment and advance to the third round of the Australian Open on Thursday, stringing together five straight matches to secure victory.
Keys, who upset Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s final, blew hot and cold against fellow American Ashlyn Krueger before crossing the line 6-1, 7-5.
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That set up a clash with former semi-finalist Karolina Pliskova after the Czech ended Indonesian Janice Tjen’s dreams in straight sets.
“I think in those tough times like today, going down in that second set, just remembering that you’ve been here before, you got this,” Keys said.
“I think when you’re able to do that in a place where you’ve had success, you feel like it gets a little easier.”
Keys admitted after her labored first-round victory that she was a bundle of nerves and “too shy.”
The 29-year-old threw off the shackles in the first set against 92nd-ranked Krueger in just 23 minutes at John Cain Arena before having to rally from 2-5 down in the second.
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“I started really well and Ash a bit slow,” said Keys, who began her season with quarter-final eliminations in Brisbane and Adelaide.
“I really expected her to raise her level and she did. But it got away from me a little quickly.
“Then once I got that momentum back, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do everything I could to get back into it.”
After taking more than an hour to win the first set in her first round, Keys broke three times against Krueger to escape this time.
Hitting well and pushing his opponent down the court, the ninth seed looked threatening and held on to love as he opened his account for the second set.
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But Krueger, consulting a book during match changes, increased his intensity and, against all odds, broke Keys to lead 3-2 after the champion’s serve imploded, committing three double faults.
Keys broke again, at love and again on a double fault, to collapse 5-2 behind.
However, she rallied to win five straight matches and stay in the title race.
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