Tennis-Keys stays on course for rare Australian Open-Wimbledon double
LONDON (Reuters) -There is nothing flashy about Madison Keys, but she knows how to get the job done and that priceless quality was on display as she eased past Olga Danilovic 6-4 6-2 on Wednesday to reach the Wimbledon third round.
The Australian Open champion is on the hunt for further Grand Slam glory at the All England Club and could become the first woman since the great Serena Williams to win those two majors in the same season.
Yet whereas Williams' ferocious weapons were clear for all to see, Keys is more the model of consistency.
She has a big forehand and serve, but a potent part of her arsenal is being able to step up when it matters most.
The 37th-ranked Danilovic put up a brave fight, which included saving five break points in one game in the second set, but Keys' consistency meant she never looked like causing an upset.
On paper, the numbers were fairly even. The winners' count was 19-15 in Keys' favour while Danilovic made marginally more unforced errors - but Keys broke her opponent four times and lost her own serve once.
After a nervy opener when she beat Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse in three sets, this was far more comfortable for the American - and with rain returning to Wimbledon after scorching temperatures on the first two days, Keys was much happier.
"I definitely felt a little more comfortable today, it's the cloudy rainy England we know and love so I felt a little more normal," she said.
"I knew that she could play really great tennis, I really just wanted to get a lead and run with it."
Next up for Keys is a match against Germany's Laura Siegmund, who has already earned her best result at Wimbledon by reaching the third round.
(Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Ed Osmond)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Tennis-Osaka ready to spread her grasscourt wings after being paralysed by fear
Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 2, 2025 Japan's Naomi Osaka during her second round match against Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq LONDON (Reuters) -After years of having a rather a strained relationship with Wimbledon thanks to being "paralysed by fear" at the thought of playing on tennis's fastest surface, Naomi Osaka feels she has finally found her grasscourt wings. The Japanese player, who has won all four of her Grand Slam titles on the hardcourts of Melbourne Park and Flushing Meadows, has never found her comfort zone on the green, green grass of Wimbledon, making only four previous appearances during her 10-year professional career. During those four visits to the All England Club, she won a total of just five matches, with third-round showings in 2017 and 2018 her standout performances -- hardly anything to shout about for a woman who has been ranked on top of the world. But after matching her best ever Wimbledon showing on Wednesday with an impressive 6-3 6-2 win over Czech Katerina Siniakova, who has won the Wimbledon women's doubles title three times, Osaka feels she has finally overcome the fear factor on grass. "When I was younger, I had no fear. I think when you are young, you fear nothing, and that's one of the really cool things about it," explained Osaka, now ranked 53 as she continues to try to recapture her best form after taking a maternity break in 2023. "But with age fear kind of crept along and, I guess, paralysed me in a way. Now I'm kind of just getting over that and trying to spread my wings on grass. "I think it is working, and I think I am moving pretty well. Yeah, I just hope that in years to come and hopefully this year I can do a lot better in this tournament." Osaka could not have picked a better year to enjoy a deep run at the tournament. Following the carnage of seeds over the first three days, the highest seeds she could meet before a potential semi-final against either world number one Aryna Sabalenka or Australian Open champion Madison Keys are number 13 Amanda Anisimova or number 30 Linda Noskova -- neither of whom are known for their grasscourt pedigree. After two straight-set victories, she will certainly fancy her chances of defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to reach the last 16 here for the first time, considering the Russian has not beaten her since 2017. "Definitely this year I feel a lot more comfortable moving on grass," said Osaka after improving her Wimbledon win-loss record to 7-4 on the day her daughter Shai was celebrating her second birthday. "I know the last couple of years I was really scared to move because when I was younger, I strained my knee or whatever. It took a couple of years to get over that but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable." (Reporting by Pritha Sarkar, editing by Clare Fallon)
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Ling Ching stuns fifth seed Line Christophersen in Canadian Open
PETALING JAYA: Wong Ling Ching has turned in a sterling performance to upstage fifth seed Line Christophersen of Denmark in the women's singles first round at the Canadian Open. Ling Ching, ranked No. 87 in the world, went into the match as the underdog against world No. 31 Christophersen but showed great resolve to carve out a come-from-behind 12-21, 21-18, 21-18 victory in 52 minutes on Wednesday (July 2). The win earned the 23-year-old a place in the second round, where she will take on Spain's Clara Azurmendi. Joining her in the next round is compatriot K. Letshanaa, who was in fine form as she eased past American Ishika Jaiswal 21-13, 21-5. Letshanaa will next face India's Shriyanshi Valishetty. In the men's singles, Eogene Ewe progressed without lifting his racquet after his Japanese opponent Takuma Obayashi conceded a walkover. Eogene will play Germany's Matthias Kicklitz next. However it was the end of the road for Justin Hoh, who went down 23-25, 10-21 to Taiwan's Wang Po-wei.
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Olympics-Australia govt confirms $2.2 billion funding for 2032 Brisbane Games venues
FILE PHOTO: A view of the city skyline of Brisbane, the city expected to be announced as host for the 2032 Olympic Games, in Brisbane, Australia, July 4, 2021. Picture taken July 4, 2021. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -The Australian government has confirmed it will contribute A$3.435 billion ($2.25 billion) towards the A$7.1 billion cost of building the venues for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, clearing the way for the start of construction. Queensland taxpayers and private finance will provide the balance of the money for the 17 new and upgraded venues for the Summer Games under the funding deal announced by state and federal governments on Thursday. "The Sydney 2000 Games left an incredible legacy and many Australians have memories that have lasted for decades," Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said in a statement. "We are ready to deliver a Brisbane 2032 games that will leave the same incredible legacy for Queensland. "The Australian government's commitment of A$3.4 billion towards the Games venues is the single largest contribution any Australian government has made towards sporting infrastructure in this country." Brisbane was awarded hosting rights for the Games in 2021 but political wrangling over the venues meant the final plans were not decided until March this year. Organising committee chief Andrew Liveris welcomed Thursday's announcement as a "significant shift in forward momentum". "I thank the Australian and Queensland governments for moving swiftly following the Australian government's recent return to office to agree on intergovernmental funding that will ensure physical works can get underway ..." he said. The main stadium, which is estimated to cost A$3.7 billion, will be built in the city's Victoria Park and seat 60,000 during the Olympics and 3,000 more for Australian Rules football and cricket matches after 2032. A new aquatics centre to host the swimming in 2032 will also be built nearby at an estimated cost of A$650 million. "Today's landmark agreement is the beginning of a new partnership that sets the pathway to deliver 2032 as the best Games ever," said Queensland's Deputy Prime Minister Jarrod Bleijie. "We've also launched procurement on four key projects to kickstart the delivery of world-class venues in the delivery plan. "I can also announce that we will start site investigations at Victoria Park for Australia's most exciting sporting precinct that will be home to the new main stadium and the new National Aquatic Centre." Liveris said in May that he did not think any ground would be broken on the two major new venues until the end of 2026. The federal government has already committed A$12.4 billion for local transport improvements that the Queensland government believes are necessary for 2032, the statement said. ($1 = 1.5235 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
