Madison Keys, the American defending her Australian Open crown, was given an almighty scare in her opening match by a Ukrainian qualifier deploying a barrage of unconventional shots, including sky-high moonballs that tested the Rod Laver Arena roof.
A Disorienting Debut from Oliynykova
Facing Oleksandra Oliynykova, a 25-year-old competing in her first-ever Grand Slam main draw, proved to be an unexpectedly tough assignment for the seasoned Keys. Oliynykova, ranked 92nd after a stunning rise from 297th last March, immediately disrupted the American's rhythm with a vicious mix of drop shots, slices, and, most memorably, looping moonballs.
Spectators in the upper tiers of the vast stadium, accustomed to watching the action from afar, were treated to the rare sight of the tennis ball frequently soaring up to their level. Oliynykova raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set, using her expert 'junk-balling' to deprive Keys of any consistent pace.
Keys' Gritty Comeback Seals the Set
The Ukrainian's dominance continued into the tie-break, where she built a 4-0 advantage and later earned two set points at 6-4. Facing a shock opening-round exit, Keys dug deep to showcase her champion's mentality. She produced a stunning sequence of four consecutive winners to snatch the first set 7-6(6), completely shifting the momentum of the match.
With the psychologically crucial first set secured, the seventh seed found her range and power, rolling through the second set 6-1 to advance. The victory was essential, but the story of the match was undoubtedly her opponent's audacious performance.
Praise for an Unorthodox Challenge
In her post-match interview, Keys was effusive in her praise for Oliynykova's effective and unusual style. When asked the last time she faced similar tactics, Keys replied, "Like 12-and-under. And that's obviously no disrespect to her at all, but it's just been a really long time to play someone who plays that style, but she does it so effectively."
The match highlighted Oliynykova's remarkable 2023, where she won 57 matches and seven titles on the WTA 125 and ITF circuits to catapult herself into the top 100. While Keys moves on to the second round of the Australian Open, her Ukrainian opponent left an indelible mark on her Grand Slam debut.
