CANBERRA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys overcame a slow start on her serve to beat Czech rising star Tereza Valentova on Wednesday and advance to the quarterfinals at the Adelaide International.
Keys, the world No. 9, served seven double faults and was broken twice in the opening set by the 18-year-old Valentova before finding form on serve and winning their second round match 6-4 and 6-1.
"I had to raise my level," Keys, who won the title at the Adelaide International in 2025 prior to winning her first Grand Slam weeks later at the Australian Open, said on court after the match.
"It's just one of those matches where you have to take your chances and any opportunity you get to try to change the momentum. Being the veteran out here I have to kind of lean on experience a little bit."
Keys will play Canada's 17th-ranked Victoria Mboko in the quarterfinals on Thursday. ■
