Madison Keys has reached her 11th Grand Slam quarter-final after beating former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Keys was involved in a controversial match with Danielle Collins, but her fourth round match against Elena Rybakina avoided anything of that manor.
Having enjoyed an impressive start to the 2025 season, winning a title in Adelaide and reaching the Australian Open quarter-finals, Keys has showcased improvements in her game.
The world number 14 has also been commenting on things that she has noticed in her upcoming opponent, Elina Svitolina.
Madison Keys surprised by Elina Svitolina did against Jasmine Paolini
Svitolina underwent foot surgery after the US Open last year, and is playing her first tournament in nearly five months at the Australian Open.
Despite this, the Ukrainian has been able to reach her third Australian Open quarter-final, highlighted by a third round win over fourth seed Jasmine Paolini.
When in her post-match press conference, Keys admitted to watching this match and explained what impressed her about Svitolina’s game.
“Yeah, I watched her match against Jasmine the other day, and I was almost surprised just because I was, like, wow, okay, she’s really going for it,” said Keys. “I mean, I think it’s kind of the evolution of all of us as we’re getting older and trying to make some changes, and if you’re not having the success, then maybe you should adapt.
“I mean, honestly, I was so impressed. She was really going for it and really going after her shots and hitting some incredible forehands. I definitely think it’s not going to be, like, the typical matchup that we have had in the past.
“I’m definitely going to have to go watch some of her, because it was not vintage Svitolina playing. Yeah, I feel like we have had some really good battles, and it’s gone back and forth. So I’m looking forward to it.”
Keys and Svitolina have played on five previous occasions, including at the 2019 Australian Open, with the American having the slight advantage in their head-to-head.
However, they have not played one another since Svitolina gave birth to her first child and came back with a more aggressive game style.
| Year | Tournament | Result |
| 2015 | Connecticut Open (Hard Court) | Keys beat Svitolina, 7-6(4) 4-2 (Retired) |
| 2017 | US Open (Hard Court) | Keys beat Svitolina, 7-6(2) 1-6 6-4 |
| 2019 | Australian Open (Hard Court) | Svitolina beat Keys, 6-2 1-6 6-1 |
| 2019 | US Open (Hard Court) | Svitolina beat Keys, 7-5 6-4 |
| 2022 | Adelaide International (Hard Court) | Keys beat Svitolina, 6-2 6-4 |
Madison Keys looks back on previous Australian Open success
Keys’s best result at the Australian Open is reaching the semi-finals, which she achieved for the first time in 2015.
This information was relayed to Keys after the match, as she was asked about what has enabled her to achieve continual success over this past decade.
“I don’t know, to be honest with you. I think I have had great years and tough years, but for the most part, I think I have had pretty consistent years,” explained Keys. “I think it’s really just been about trying to have fun and just surrounding myself with really good people and enjoying my time on the road.
“I think it’s hard to basically live in a hotel all of the time, and I think that’s almost the hardest part of the sport, along with having to go out and compete every single day. So I think just trying to have some sort of routine everywhere to make it feel a little bit homier and have something to come back to while you’re never home, I think, has probably been the thing that I have been able to do fairly well.”
Keys will look to reach her third Australian Open semi-final on Wednesday January 22 when she plays the aforementioned Svitolina.
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