Yahoo Sports Keys upsets Rybakina to reach quarter-finals
Australian Open 2025
Dates: 12-26 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Live radio commentary on Tennis Breakfast from 07:00 GMT on BBC 5 Sports Extra, plus live text commentaries on the BBC Sport website and app
Madison Keys upset sixth seed Elena Rybakina in three sets to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The American 19th seed won 6-3 1-6 6-3 on Margaret Court Arena to extend her winning streak to to nine matches.
Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina struggled with a back injury in the third round and despite rallying in the second set, was unable to combat 29-year-old Keys' aggressive approach.
"Her serve is such a weapon, so I knew that if I could just try to make at least some of her service games a little bit competitive, then I had a chance," said Keys.
"So I was basically just trying to make anything that I could get my racquet on back over the net, which worked sometimes."
Kazakhstan's Rybakina, 25, said she would need "magic" to progress in Melbourne after needing treatment on her back during her third-round win over Ukraine's Dayana Yastremska.
She had won her previous two matches against Keys, but dropped the first set with the American neutralising her big serve and taking control of the rallies.
Rybakina, a finalist in Melbourne in 2023, fought back midway through the encounter to win four straight games and secure the second set, but Keys would triumph in the decider.
At 3-3 she took control before eventually sealing her spot in the last eight with a searing cross-court winner on her second match point.
Keys will play Ukraine's 28th seed Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals after she beat Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-1.
Svitolina, 30, recovered from a poor start to reach her 12th Grand Slam quarter-final, before dedicating the win to her country.
"This fighting spirit that I have is completely Ukrainian spirit that I try to show, that I try to represent, as well," said Svitolina.
"For me to find a way to win matches, to find a way to bring a little light, a little win for Ukrainian people, is something that I feel I am responsible of. To bring the fight is the least that I can do."
