Defending champion Madison Keys exits Australian Open in sweltering Melbourne heat as Pegula advances and extreme weather forces player safety measures.
MELBOURNE: Defending champion Madison Keys was eliminated from the Australian Open as a severe heatwave gripped Melbourne Park.
The American sixth seed fell to her friend and podcast co-host Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 in a last-16 match on Rod Laver Arena. Pegula’s victory sets up a quarter-final against compatriot and fourth seed Amanda Anisimova.
Anisimova advanced by defeating China’s Wang Xinyu 7-6 (7/4), 6-4. Keys, who made 27 unforced errors, will honour a jokey bet by eating apple pie with melted cheddar cheese. “A bet is a bet, so I’ll do it,” Keys said.
Fifth seed Elena Rybakina also progressed, dismantling Belgium’s Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-3. She awaits the winner between Iga Swiatek and Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.
Temperatures soared to 33C on Monday, prompting organisers to implement 10-minute breaks for longer matches to protect player health. The forecast for Tuesday is a blistering 45C, likely forcing matches onto the three roofed courts.
In the men’s draw, reigning champion Jannik Sinner aims to avoid an upset against fellow Italian Luciano Darderi later on Monday. Novak Djokovic received a walkover into the quarter-finals after Jakub Mensik withdrew injured.
Djokovic will face Lorenzo Musetti, who battled the heat to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. The Italian fifth seed has lost nine of his ten previous meetings with the Serb. “I feel ready to try to push him to his maximum,” Musetti said.
American Ben Shelton and Norway’s Casper Ruud will contest the final night match on centre court.
