Keys and Pegula Cruise Past Americans in Melbourne
Defending champion Madison Keys and No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula dispatch fellow U.S. players in straight sets during Round 2 of the Australian Open, dropping just eight games combined to build early momentum.
Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena pulsed with anticipation on Thursday as defending champion Madison Keys and No. 6 seed Jessica Pegula faced all-American showdowns in Round 2 of the Australian Open. Both players, shouldering U.S. expectations in the season’s first major, dismantled their opponents with ruthless precision, conceding only eight games between them. These weren’t just wins; they were statements of form, blending tactical dominance with the mental edge needed to navigate a draw rife with upsets.
Pegula’s clash against World No. 37 McCartney Kessler layered personal stakes atop national rivalry—doubles partners colliding under the bright lights. The No. 6 seed, recalling their WTA 250 final in Austin last year, stormed to the first eight games with penetrating crosscourt forehands and a one–two serve pattern that left Kessler scrambling. The 6–0, 6–2 rout lasted 58 minutes, Pegula’s heavy topspin forcing errors on the Plexicushion’s true bounce.
“It sucked to play not just another American, but her doubles partner,” Pegula admitted afterwards to former Top 10 player Coco Vandeweghe.
Pegula channels tension into baseline fire
The emotional weight sharpened Pegula’s focus, turning frustration into aggressive rallies that exploited Kessler’s shorter returns. Under Melbourne’s sun, her inside-out backhands hugged the lines, pinning the World No. 37 deep and disrupting any counterpunch. This victory, clean and commanding, signaled Pegula’s acclimation to the hard-court grind, her fist pump drawing cheers as she eyes deeper runs.
Keys erases deficit with champion’s grit
Keys arrived fresh from a tense opener, where she overturned a 4–0 hole and two set points against Oleksandra Olyniykova for a 7–6(6), 6–1 escape. Against World No. 62 Ashlyn Krueger, the first set fell 6–1 on the back of flat serves and down-the-line winners that controlled the tempo. But the second set demanded resilience, Keys trailing 5–2 before slicing backhands to disrupt rhythm and inside-in forehands to wrong-foot her foe.
Saving a set point at 5–6, she leveled with a sharp down-the-line pass, then sealed the 7–5 finish in 1 hour and 13 minutes. The crowd’s roar amplified her comeback, her varied patterns—mixing topspin with dropshots—exposing Krueger’s vulnerabilities on the faster surface. This rally not only preserved her title defense but rebuilt poise after a sparse early schedule.
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American paths sharpen for Round 3
These triumphs, tactical and tempered by intra-team dynamics, position Keys and Pegula to extend U.S. influence in Melbourne. The Australian Open’s moderate pace rewards their blend of power and consistency, with mid-pack compatriots fading in prolonged exchanges. As the third round approaches, check Australian Open: Scores | Draws | Order of play for the next challenges, where their momentum could carry them toward the business end of the fortnight.
