Australian Open: ‘Too timid at the start,’ says Madison Keys

Madison Keys during her match against Oleksandra Oliynykova at the Australian Open on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images

A jittery Madison Keys admitted on Tuesday that she was "too timid" after getting the defence of her Australian Open crown off to a stuttering start, losing the first four games before rallying to stay in the title hunt.

The American World No. 9 was a bundle of nerves on Rod Laver Arena, but calmed down to clinch a 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win over Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Mind over matter

"I think at the start I just felt like I was playing just a little timid and not really trusting my first instinct. I kind of kept changing my mind on what I actually wanted to do. That was really slowing down my footwork as well. I was reacting instead of having a plan of what I wanted to do," said Keys, 30, before going on to praise Oliynykova, calling her ‘incredible.'

Her opponent, the Ukrainian World No. 92, was facing a player inside the Top 50 for the first time, but showed few nerves and put up strong fight.

While Keys, who stunned Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago in a three-set epic to win her first major crown at the age of 29, said it was a privilege to be back as defending champion.

"I have been thinking of that moment for basically a year. I was talking to [multiple Grand Slam winner] Lindsay Davenport yesterday. She reminded me that not many people get to be a defending champion at a Grand Slam, so just trying to embrace it and enjoy it. And, as nervous as I was at the start, I'm really glad to be back and to win that match," said Keys.

In the men's singles event, defending champion Jannik Sinner also got off to a winning start, aided by his opponent Hugo Gaston retiring with an injury after the second set. The Italian World No. 2 was leading 6-2, 6-1 against the Frenchman before the latter called it quits with an unspecified injury.

Djoko serves up some fun

Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic joked that Carlos Alcaraz owes him a percentage of his winnings after the Spanish World No. 1's new-look serve appeared to bear a striking resemblance to that of the 24-time Grand Slam champion. "When I saw it [before the tournament], I sent him a message. I said, ‘we have to speak about the copyrights.' Later I told him we have to talk about a percentage of his winnings. Every ace I expect a tribute to me. Let's see if he's going to stick to the agreement," said Djokovic with a laugh.

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