Keys, the No. 19 seed and a two-time semifinalist at Melbourne Park, had won the first set. But Rybakina, who like Keys is a precise winner machine when she is playing the tennis she wants to play, had taken the second by seizing the initiative and playing on her front foot. Halfway to the finish, Keys had become a passive counterpuncher.

American Madison Keys defeated sixth seed Elena Rybakina in a thrilling match at the Australian Open, advancing to the quarter-finals. Despite a strong start and a challenging second set, Keys regained momentum to secure her third victory over a top-10 player this month.

She will next play Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, who beat Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 earlier on Jan 20. Read more at straitstimes.com.