Keys breezes past Mertens into round 4 of Australian Open

by IANS |

Melbourne, Jan 19: Madison Keys defeated 2018 semi-finalist Elise Mertens on Saturday to advance to the round of 16 in the Australian Open.

The number 17 seed, a Australian Open semifinalist in 2015 and runner-up at the 2017 US Open, dropped just five games to make it to the second week of the tournament for the fourth time in the past five years after routing Mertens, number 12 seed, 6-3, 6-2, reports Efe news.

She hammered out 31 winners to just 21 unforced errors in the match, losing serve just once and won four of Mertens' eight service games overall.

"I think I played really well," the American said after the match.

"I served well, especially in the first set, getting out of some breakpoint situations. She played really well, which just made me raise my level," she added.

Keys won a seven-deuce third game in the first set, in which she saved three break points.

"In the second set, being able to break a couple of times and bounce back from being broken back, overall I'm just really happy with how everything went today," Keys said.

"It's definitely shaping up to be a very interesting first Grand Slam of the year. Everyone is just playing really well. Even the upsets aren't really upsets. Everyone is just playing really good tennis," she added.

Keys will now play against sixth-seeded Elina Svitolina, who downed China's Zhang Shuai 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 earlier in the day.

Latest News
IPL 2024: 'Sai Kishore did not expect I will go after him off the first ball', says CSK's Shivam Dube Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:55 PM
Talks with Ukrainian FM focused on conflict with Russia, says EAM Jaishankar Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:49 PM
Started my career on shop floor of auto plant: Anand Mahindra to Elon Musk Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:42 PM
Chinese military offers help to Pakistan to curb terrorism Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:39 PM
Kangana Ranaut holds roadshow in Mandi, responds to Supriya Shrinate's 'bhao' jibe Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:36 PM
CPI tries to revive itself by launching ex-IPS officer in UP's Faizabad Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:29 PM
Mandya in Karnataka to witness mega clash between Kumaraswamy and Star Chandru Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:26 PM
I-T seizes unaccounted cash from Kolkata bizman's office Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:24 PM
Byju's EGM on rights issue ends sans objections, dissenting investors skip meet Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:12 PM
Anti-abuse provisions should not be used in receipt of capital from credible investors: Experts Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 03:09 PM
UP: Kamaal R Khan's brother to contest from Saharanpur on BSP ticket Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 02:59 PM
Pakistan: Alarm bells ring as judicial bodies gear up to protect their judges against 'targeted assault' Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 02:50 PM
Judicial probe ordered in Mukhtar Ansari's death Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 02:46 PM
Stories come knocking, characters start whispering to me: Filmmaker Rima Das Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 02:45 PM
Magisterial probe ordered into Mukhtar Ansari's death Fri, Mar 29, 2024, 12:52 PM