World No. 18 Madison Keys moved into the third round of the 2026 Charleston Open on Wednesday, cruising past Donna Vekić 6-2, 6-3 in straight sets.
The 2019 tournament champion needed just one hour and 15 minutes to close out the match. She controlled play early, never giving up momentum.
Keys said her fast start made all the difference.
"Pretty happy overall, I think," Keys said postgame. "Getting off to a really good start with a couple of breaks, and I think I served really well."
And, she added, there was little to review after the performance.
"Overall, not a whole lot of things to be upset about today," Keys said.
The US tennis star entered the tournament as one of several big-name contenders in a deep field. That included top seed Jessica Pegula, who advanced with a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 win over Yulia Putintseva. 2022 champion Belinda Bencic is also through, after pulling off a 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-3 victory over Dayana Yastremska.
Keys will next face Anna Bondar in the third round, with the match scheduled for 2 PM ET on Thursday.
A win would push Keys into the quarterfinal conversation as the 2026 Charleston Open continues to take shape heading into the weekend.
How to Watch Madison Keys at the 2026 Charleston Open
Charleston Open coverage continues through April 5th, with matches airing on live on The Tennis Channel.
