Keys overcomes second-set struggle, Pegula happy after straight win

VIDEO SHOWS: POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE COMMENTS FROM MADISON KEYS, JESSICA PEGULA, JAKUB MENSIK AND LUCIANO DARDERI AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN  RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (JANUARY 22, 2026) (TENNIS AUSTRALIA – See restrictions) 1. DEFENDING CHAMPION MADISON KEYS SETTLING IN FOR THE PRESS CONFERENCE  2. WHITE FLASH  3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENDING CHAMPION MADISON KEYS (ON WINNING HER MATCH AND CROWD SUPPORT AT THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN), SAYING: "It definitely feels very special, obviously, going out. I feel like I've always had pretty good crowd support here, but I think that's heightened now, which is always very nice. But I think still kind of similar. It may be just that the emotions are maybe just like a little bit more heightened. But it's obviously, it's always been somewhere that I've loved playing and I've had such great memories. So I think in those tough kind of moments like today, getting down in that second set, just kind of reminding yourself that you've been here before, you've figured it out. And I think when you're able to do that in a place where you've had success, it just feels like it comes a little bit easier." 4. WHITE FLASH  5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEFENDING CHAMPION MADISON KEYS (ON TENSIONS IN THE U.S.) SAYING: "I think my stance has been pretty obvious. I think it's pretty obvious where I stand, and I am hopeful that we, as a country, can come together and get back to the values that I think make our country great. I am not a fan of divisiveness, and I think the beauty of the U.S. is we are a mixing pot, we are very diverse, we are a home of immigrants. I hope that we can get back to those values." 6. WHITE FLASH 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AMERICAN SIXTH SEED, JESSICA PEGULA (ON HER WIN), SAYING: "I thought I played a very clean match, kind of executed exactly what I wanted to from the start. Maybe, you know, got a little help from her end, but at the same time, you know, was able to really just play a super-clean match and kind of do what I wanted to from start to finish. You know, when those days come around, you take them and you run on with those to the next day, 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, I guess." 8. WHITE FLASH  9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CZECH TENNIS PLAYER, JAKUB MENSIK, (ON WINNING IN THREE STRAIGHT SETS) SAYING: "Yeah, of course, I'm happier that I was not playing that long. Of course, the first match was, for me, super, like, physically — it was very tough, and this one, obviously, you know, I'm super happy that especially after the first match, that I spent a little bit less time on the court. Of course, yeah, it's always easier to win in the three sets and in one and a half hours than spend around four and a half. So I'm happy that I could also manage my energy and keep it for the next rounds." 10. WHITE FLASH  11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ITALIAN TENNIS PLAYER, LUCIANO DARDERI, (ON WINNING THE MATCH AFTER LOSING THE SECOND SET 6-1) SAYING:  "No, I just tried to stay aggressive in the important moments, because I was 5-2 in the third set. Then I had set points there, but I changed one at 5-4. However, I stayed mentally really focused in that moment, so I think that was the key to the match: the 5-4 in the third set. When I was in that game in the third set, I think that was the key to the match. Then for sure he started really, really well in the fourth set, but then I kept continuing just trying to push him outside the court. STORY: Women's title holder Madison Keys, the ninth seed in the draw, notched up a 6-1 7-5 win over fellow American Ashlyn Krueger but was less than convincing after powering her way through the opening set on Thursday (January 22).  The defending champion allowed doubts to creep into her game in the second set, handing Krueger two breaks on serve with a succession of double faults before battling back to progress to the next round to face Karolina Pliskova. "It definitely feels very special, going out. I feel like I've always had pretty good crowd support here, but I think that's heightened now, which is always very nice," Keys told reporters. "I think in those tough kind of moments like today, getting down in that second set, just kind of reminding yourself that you've been here before, you've figured it out. And I think when you're able to do that in a place where you've had success, it just feels like it comes a little bit easier." Sixth seed Jessica Pegula had few issues against doubles partner McCartney Kessler, handing out a comprehensive 6-0 6-2 defeat to her fellow American in 58 minutes and set up a meeting with Russia's Oksana Selekhmeteva in the third round. Selekhmeteva had never been past the first round of a major championship. "I played a very clean match, kind of executed exactly what I wanted to from the start. Maybe I got a little help from her end, but at the same time, I was able to really just play a super clean match and kind of do what I wanted to from start to finish," Pegula said.  In the men's contest, 16th seed Jakub Mensik made quick work of Spanish qualifier Rafael Jodar, winning 6-2 6-4 6-4 in less than two hours, while Spanish number 22 Luciano Darderi battled past Sebastian Baez 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-3.  (Production: Suramya Kaushik)

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