Australian Open 2026 Women’s Day 5

Defending champion Madison Keys overcame a lapse while fellow US seed Jessicia Pegula had a more straightforward match as the pair moved into the third round.

Keys, seeded ninth, defeated compatriot Ashlyn Kreuger 6-1, 7-5 while tournament  No. 3 Pegula beat newly inuted doubles partner McCartney Kessler with the loss of just two games.

Keys, 30, is competing here for the 12th time, marking her 50th appearance at a Grand Slam.

The seed swept up the opening seet but had to come back from a double break down in the second before advancing.

“I started really well  and she started slow,” the winner said. “I was expecting her to raise her  level and she did.

“The second set got away from me quickly and I wanted to make sure Ii got back into it. I tried to sink my teeth into the match and do what I could.”

The holder added: “It’s amazing to be back as defending champion. I reached my first Grand Slam semi-final here (2022) so it’s fitting I won my first title here also.”

Pegula, a three-time Melbourne quarter-finalist, lost her only two games to Kessler in the second set after her opponent had taken a medical time out of court following the opening set.

The third seed broke twice in the second set as she finished off the rout in an hour.

The pair had been trying for weeks to hook up in doubles and managed to mesh schedules for this major.

Pegula could only laugh at the irony of playing her partner in singles, but was not deterred in advancing.

“I thought I played a very clean match, executed exactly what I wanted to from the start. Maybe I got a little help from her end but I was able to do what I
wanted to from start to finish.

“When those days come around, you take them because it doesn’t happen often. She’s a really tricky player and a good competitor.

Happy that I got through with not a lot of drama.

Second seed and two-time semi-finalist  Iga Swiatek found herself in the wilderness of a minor showcourt but took little notice as the six-time grand Slam winner piled on for a 6-2, 6-3 defeat – her third straight win over 44th-ranked of Czech Marie Bouzkova.

Fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova defeated Karolina Siniakova with an efficient 6-1, 6-4.

“I’ve always been a player who likes a challenge. When things get a bit rocky, it’s very competitive out there, I think I thrive on that,” she said.

“That’s what I love about the sport, is those really tense moments. I’ve been able to come through and get to the finish line at Grand Slams, so that definitely helps with my confidence. 

“I’m just thinking about how to battle through what I can do better,” added the finalist at two of the majors last season.

Anna Kalinskaya ended the run of Julia Grabher 6-3, 6-3 while 2021 Wimbledon finalist Karolina Pliskova advanced past Indonesian Janice Tjen 6-4, 6-4.