From “Timid” to Tough: How Madison Keys Steadied Herself to Begin Her Australian Open Title Defence

For Madison Keys, the opening match of a Grand Slam title defence was never going to feel routine. Even for a player with years of experience on the biggest stages in tennis, there was something uniquely unsettling about walking back onto Rod Laver Arena as the reigning Australian Open champion. Add an unfamiliar opponent into the mix, and it was no surprise that Keys admitted she felt “timid” as she took her first steps into this year’s tournament.

Twelve months on from the magical fortnight that changed her career forever, Keys survived a nervous start, steadied her game, and ultimately found her rhythm to move safely into the second round. The scoreboard will show a comfortable 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win over Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova, but the story of the match was far more layered than the scoreline suggests.

A Nervous Start for Keys as Title Defence Begins

Oleksandra Oliynykova plays a shot at the Australian Open

Madison Keys knows better than most how rare moments like this are. Last year’s triumph in Melbourne delivered the first Grand Slam title of her career, a moment she had chased for more than a decade. Returning as champion, however, brought its own emotional weight.

“I’ve been thinking about this moment for basically a year,” Keys admitted afterwards. “The moment they say, ‘Ready, play’, it all hits you in a way that I don’t think you can ever really explain.”

Those nerves were visible from the opening game. Keys, seeded ninth this year, looked tight and tentative early on, struggling to impose the powerful baseline game that has defined her career. She was broken immediately, served three double faults in her opening service game, and quickly found herself trailing 4-0 against an opponent playing in her first-ever Grand Slam main draw.

Facing Oleksandra Oliynykova, ranked outside the world’s top 90, only added to the uncertainty. Keys revealed she had been unable to find much footage of the Ukrainian in the build-up, making preparation difficult. Oliynykova’s counterpunching, defensive style disrupted Keys’ natural rhythm, forcing her to think instead of react.

“At the start I felt I was playing a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct,” Keys said. “I kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. I was reacting instead of having a plan.”

Timid Keys Finds Her Feet Just in Time

Despite the shaky opening, experience eventually told. From 4-0 down in the first set, Keys began to simplify her approach. She shortened points where possible, committed to her forehand, and slowly dragged herself back into the contest.

The turning point came as she clawed her way to 5-5, then forced a tie-break. Even there, the nerves did not immediately disappear. Oliynykova surged ahead to a 5-2 lead, threatening a stunning upset that would have rocked the tournament on its opening day.

But champions often reveal themselves in moments of danger. Keys dug deep, reeled off a run of points, and took the tie-break 8-6 with a pair of fearless groundstrokes that finally reflected her true level. The release was obvious — a clenched fist, a deep breath, and a visible shift in body language.

The second set told a very different story. Freed from the weight of the opening exchanges, Keys raced through it in just 28 minutes, overwhelming Oliynykova with pace and precision to close out the match 6-1. What began as a tense and uncertain title defence ended with a reminder of why she remains one of the most dangerous players in the draw.

Life After the Breakthrough Title

Interestingly, Keys arrived in Melbourne without the momentum many champions enjoy. After lifting the trophy last year, she did not win another title during the remainder of the season. Her 2026 campaign also began quietly, with quarter-final exits in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Yet perspective has been a recurring theme in her reflections. Contesting her 50th Grand Slam tournament, Keys spoke candidly about the pressure of expectation — and the privilege of being in that position at all.

“As nerve-racking and stressful as that can be, I’m still reminding myself of just how few people get to be in that moment,” she said. “Being able to walk out today and have the crowd be as welcoming as they were, I’ll take the stress any day.”

That mindset may prove crucial as the tournament unfolds. A second-round clash with fellow American Ashlyn Krueger awaits, and the path forward will only get tougher.

Oliynykova’s Moment on the Big Stage

While the spotlight naturally fell on Keys, Oleksandra Oliynykova left the court with her head held high. The 25-year-old Ukrainian, playing her first match at a Grand Slam, delivered a performance that earned her respect and admiration.

With tiny flowers painted on her face, Oliynykova embraced the moment rather than shrinking from it. For a set and a half, she matched the reigning champion blow for blow, defending relentlessly and forcing Keys into uncomfortable positions.

Afterwards, she described the match as “the best experience in my career” and “something I will remember until the end of my life”.

Born in Kyiv, Oliynykova revealed how deeply personal the moment was. Her father currently serves in the Ukrainian military, and she said stepping onto court in Melbourne carried emotional weight far beyond tennis.

“I know it was his dream to see me on this court,” she said. “I will do everything to make him even more proud. I made his dream come true.”

Tennis Against a Backdrop of Reality

Oliynykova’s journey to Melbourne has unfolded against the harsh reality of war. She has continued to train in Ukraine since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022, and the conflict remains a daily presence in her life.

Speaking quietly after the match, she recounted a chilling moment just before leaving for Australia.

“There was an explosion just near my home and a drone hit the home just across the road,” she said. “My apartment was literally shaking because of the explosion.”

Those words put the match into stark perspective. For Oliynykova, simply being on court at the Australian Open was a victory in itself.

A Champion Moves On, a Story Lingers

For Madison Keys, the result was all that ultimately mattered. A nervous start, a “timid” phase, and a test of resilience have been navigated. Her Australian Open title defence is alive, and perhaps strengthened by an early reminder that nothing comes easily at this level.

For Oleksandra Oliynykova, defeat came with pride, perspective, and a story that resonated far beyond the baseline. In a match that began with tension and ended in clarity, both players left the court having shown something meaningful — one rediscovering her champion’s calm, the other announcing herself to the world.