Jim Courier has spotted a change in Madison Keys which really impressed him during her win over Danielle Collins

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Madison Keys booked her spot in the Australian open fourth round with a convincing win over her fellow American.

The big-hitting 29-year-old powered her way through to the last 16 of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-4, victory over Danielle Collins.

Keys has been in fine form this tournament, dropping just one set in her three matches, as she gets set to face off against Elena Rybakina in the fourth round.

Keys beat Ann Li, and Elena-Gabriela Ruse in her opening two matches, players ranked outside the WTA top 75, but faced a far tougher test against world number 11, Collins on Saturday.

Much of the talk prior to the match had been centered around Collins’ response to the crowd after her second-round match with Destanee Aiiava.

The controversial American was booed onto the court for her encounter with Keys, but Collins wasn’t able to grab the headlines this time around as she fell in straight sets.

After the match, one of Keys’ fellow Americans gave his thoughts on how impressed he’s been with her recent improvements.

Jim Courier was impressed with Madison Keys’ ‘control’ during win over Danielle Collins

Speaking to Eurosport, former world number one Jim Courier explained what has impressed him about Keys recently.

“I think the thing I am most impressed with honestly is the control,” said Courier.

“Madison [Keys] has always been plenty powerful it has been an issue of can she control it.”

Courier went on to say that Keys made a big change ahead of the 2025 season that is now paying off.

“She has typically been such a flat ball striker, but since she changed rackets and string setup coming into this season the data is saying that she is not only getting more power but more top-spin,” he said.

“That control is vital because Maddison Keys can overpower most players out there but a lot of the time she has made some mistakes in big matches, and [that is] why so far she is not a Major champion.

“Maybe this is going to be the turning point for her.

“It’s great to see her in this kind of form and happy in her personal life as well.”

Keys is yet to win a Major title, coming closest eight years ago when she reached the final of the 2017 US Open, losing in straight sets to Sloane Stephens

Madison Keys stretches her winning streak to eight matches ahead of fourth round clash

Few players are remaining in the Australian Open draw with a longer winning streak than Keys, who has now won her last eight matches.

Keys won the Adelaide International earlier this month and has continued her fine form into the first Grand Slam of the year.

• 2025 Australian Open 3R – Beat [10] Danielle Collins, 6-4, 6-4
• 2025 Australian Open 2R – Beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse, 7-6, 2-6, 7-5
• 2025 Australian Open 1R – Beat Ann Li, 6-4, 7-5
• 2025 Adelaide International F – Beat [1] Jessica Pegula, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1
• 2025 Adelaide International SF – Beat Liudmila Samsonova, 5-7, 7-5, 3-0 (RET)
• 2025 Adelaide International QF – Beat [3] Daria Kasatkina, 6-1, 6-3
• 2025 Adelaide International 2R – Beat [8] Jelena Ostapenko, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• 2025 Adelaide International 1R – Beat Beatriz Haddad Maia, 6-2, 6-1

You wouldn’t be blamed for thinking that Keys’ streak is unmatched on the WTA Tour, but there are two other players on similarly impressive runs.

Aryna Sabalenka has also won her last eight matches, thanks to a victory at her warm-up tournament, the Brisbane International earlier this month.

Arguably Sabalenka’s biggest rival in Australia, Coco Gauff, has remarkably won her last ten singles matches, thanks to her performances at the WTA Finals last year, the United Cup, and the Australian Open.

It remains to be seen which of the three ‘unbeaten’ WTA stars will go furthest in Melbourne, but they’ll all no doubt hope to kick off the second week with a convincing win in the fourth round.

Keys will face off against Kazakh sixth seed Rybakina on Monday, January 20.