playPegula pulls through in straight sets to defeat Kessler (0:21)Jessica Pegula defeats McCartney Kessler in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the Australian Open. (0:21)Associated PressJan 21, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys survived a tough second-set challenge Thursday but overcame fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.After sweeping through the first set, the ninth-seeded Keys fell behind 5-2 in the second set but rallied for the victory at John Cain Arena.In another early match between two American women, sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2.”I think I started really well, and Ashlyn started a little bit slow,” Keys said. “And then I was fully expecting her to raise her level, which she did. It just kind of got away from me a little quickly.”Keys said she tried to get back to basics, hoping she could at least prepare herself for a deciding third set.Instead, she took the second.”I just wanted to, even if I lost the [second] set, make sure I tried to get back in the set and try to figure out where my game kind of went and be able to get a few more points on the board,” Keys said. “Once I kind of got back momentum, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”In early men’s matches, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States reached the third round, defeating Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.Two other seeded men also advanced. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 15 Karen Khachanov moved on with a win over Nishesh Basavareddy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Later fourth-seeded and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was up against Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
Pegula pulls through in straight sets to defeat Kessler (0:21)Jessica Pegula defeats McCartney Kessler in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the Australian Open. (0:21)
playPegula pulls through in straight sets to defeat Kessler (0:21)Jessica Pegula defeats McCartney Kessler in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the Australian Open. (0:21)Associated PressJan 21, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys survived a tough second-set challenge Thursday but overcame fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.After sweeping through the first set, the ninth-seeded Keys fell behind 5-2 in the second set but rallied for the victory at John Cain Arena.In another early match between two American women, sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2.”I think I started really well, and Ashlyn started a little bit slow,” Keys said. “And then I was fully expecting her to raise her level, which she did. It just kind of got away from me a little quickly.”Keys said she tried to get back to basics, hoping she could at least prepare herself for a deciding third set.Instead, she took the second.”I just wanted to, even if I lost the [second] set, make sure I tried to get back in the set and try to figure out where my game kind of went and be able to get a few more points on the board,” Keys said. “Once I kind of got back momentum, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”In early men’s matches, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States reached the third round, defeating Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.Two other seeded men also advanced. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 15 Karen Khachanov moved on with a win over Nishesh Basavareddy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Later fourth-seeded and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was up against Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
playPegula pulls through in straight sets to defeat Kessler (0:21)Jessica Pegula defeats McCartney Kessler in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the Australian Open. (0:21)Associated PressJan 21, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys survived a tough second-set challenge Thursday but overcame fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.After sweeping through the first set, the ninth-seeded Keys fell behind 5-2 in the second set but rallied for the victory at John Cain Arena.In another early match between two American women, sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2.”I think I started really well, and Ashlyn started a little bit slow,” Keys said. “And then I was fully expecting her to raise her level, which she did. It just kind of got away from me a little quickly.”Keys said she tried to get back to basics, hoping she could at least prepare herself for a deciding third set.Instead, she took the second.”I just wanted to, even if I lost the [second] set, make sure I tried to get back in the set and try to figure out where my game kind of went and be able to get a few more points on the board,” Keys said. “Once I kind of got back momentum, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”In early men’s matches, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States reached the third round, defeating Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.Two other seeded men also advanced. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 15 Karen Khachanov moved on with a win over Nishesh Basavareddy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Later fourth-seeded and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was up against Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
playPegula pulls through in straight sets to defeat Kessler (0:21)Jessica Pegula defeats McCartney Kessler in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the Australian Open. (0:21)Associated PressJan 21, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys survived a tough second-set challenge Thursday but overcame fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.After sweeping through the first set, the ninth-seeded Keys fell behind 5-2 in the second set but rallied for the victory at John Cain Arena.In another early match between two American women, sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2.”I think I started really well, and Ashlyn started a little bit slow,” Keys said. “And then I was fully expecting her to raise her level, which she did. It just kind of got away from me a little quickly.”Keys said she tried to get back to basics, hoping she could at least prepare herself for a deciding third set.Instead, she took the second.”I just wanted to, even if I lost the [second] set, make sure I tried to get back in the set and try to figure out where my game kind of went and be able to get a few more points on the board,” Keys said. “Once I kind of got back momentum, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”In early men’s matches, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States reached the third round, defeating Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.Two other seeded men also advanced. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 15 Karen Khachanov moved on with a win over Nishesh Basavareddy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Later fourth-seeded and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was up against Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
playPegula pulls through in straight sets to defeat Kessler (0:21)Jessica Pegula defeats McCartney Kessler in straight sets 6-0, 6-2 in the Australian Open. (0:21)Associated PressJan 21, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys survived a tough second-set challenge Thursday but overcame fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.After sweeping through the first set, the ninth-seeded Keys fell behind 5-2 in the second set but rallied for the victory at John Cain Arena.In another early match between two American women, sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2.”I think I started really well, and Ashlyn started a little bit slow,” Keys said. “And then I was fully expecting her to raise her level, which she did. It just kind of got away from me a little quickly.”Keys said she tried to get back to basics, hoping she could at least prepare herself for a deciding third set.Instead, she took the second.”I just wanted to, even if I lost the [second] set, make sure I tried to get back in the set and try to figure out where my game kind of went and be able to get a few more points on the board,” Keys said. “Once I kind of got back momentum, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”In early men’s matches, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States reached the third round, defeating Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.Two other seeded men also advanced. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 15 Karen Khachanov moved on with a win over Nishesh Basavareddy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Later fourth-seeded and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was up against Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.
Associated PressJan 21, 2026, 09:20 PM ETOpen Extended ReactionsMELBOURNE, Australia — Defending champion Madison Keys survived a tough second-set challenge Thursday but overcame fellow American Ashlyn Krueger 6-1, 7-5 to reach the third round of the Australian Open.After sweeping through the first set, the ninth-seeded Keys fell behind 5-2 in the second set but rallied for the victory at John Cain Arena.In another early match between two American women, sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula defeated McCartney Kessler 6-0, 6-2.”I think I started really well, and Ashlyn started a little bit slow,” Keys said. “And then I was fully expecting her to raise her level, which she did. It just kind of got away from me a little quickly.”Keys said she tried to get back to basics, hoping she could at least prepare herself for a deciding third set.Instead, she took the second.”I just wanted to, even if I lost the [second] set, make sure I tried to get back in the set and try to figure out where my game kind of went and be able to get a few more points on the board,” Keys said. “Once I kind of got back momentum, I just tried to sink my teeth into the set and do whatever I could to get back into it.”In early men’s matches, eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States reached the third round, defeating Australian qualifier Dane Sweeny 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.Two other seeded men also advanced. Fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti defeated fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, and No. 15 Karen Khachanov moved on with a win over Nishesh Basavareddy 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.Later fourth-seeded and 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic was up against Francesco Maestrelli of Italy.