Keys upsets Rybakina to reach quarter-finals

Australian Open 2025

Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park

Madison Keys advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after defeating Elena Rybakina, who is currently sixth seed.

The American 19th seed won 6-3 1-6 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena to extend her winning streak to to nine matches.

Rybakina, the former champion of Wimbledon, was sidelined in the third round and was unable to stop Keys, 29, from attacking her aggressive opponent.

“Her serve is such a weapon, so I knew that if I could just try to make at least some of her service games a little bit competitive, then I had a chance”, said Keys.

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, 25, said she would need “magic” to progress in Melbourne after needing treatment on her back during her third-round win over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska.

She had won both of her previous matches against Keys, but the American, who neutralized her big serve and took the lead, dropped the first set.

Rybakina, a finalist in Melbourne in 2023, rallied late in the match to win four straight games and advance to the final set, but Keys would prevail in the end.

She eventually took control with a searing cross-court winner on her second match point, which secured her place in the final eight.

Keys will play Ukraine’s 28th seed Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals after she beat Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-1.

Svitolina, 30, recovered from a poor start to reach her 12th Grand Slam quarter-final, before dedicating the win to her country.

“This fighting spirit that I have is completely Ukrainian spirit that I try to show, that I try to represent, as well”, said Svitolina.