Barbora Krejcikova and Madison Keys will play each other for a place in the semi-finals of the Australian Open for tennis professionals. French Open winner Krejcikova and former US Open finalist Keys advanced to the quarter-finals with emphatic victories in Melbourne.
World number four Krejcikova kept her title chance alive with a 6-2, 6-2 win over two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. The Czech had failed to make it past the second round in her two previous appearances at the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.
“I admire Vica. She is a champion here. I’m extremely happy that I won today. It’s hard to find words,” said the 26-year-old Czech. She made her victory perfect in 1:25 hours. Asarenka had treatment on her neck during the match.
Keys, also 26, earlier needed just 69 minutes for her 6-3, 6-1 win over Spanish top-ten player Paula Badosa. Keys had reached the final at the US Open in 2017, and her best-ever result at the Australian Open was a semi-final in 2015. “I’m just enjoying playing tennis again,” said the world number 51. Keys’ compatriot Jessica Pegula has been confirmed as another quarter-finalist. The world number 21 defeated Greek fifth seed Maria Sakkari 7-6 (7-0), 6-3 to reach the last eight of the Australian Open for the second time since 2021.
All three German women – Angelique Kerber, Andrea Petkovic and Tatjana Maria – had already been eliminated in the first round. Petkovic was without a chance in her opening match against Krejcikova.
