Madison Keys advanced at the 2026 US Open with a 7-5, 6-4 first-round win over Alina Korneeva on Monday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 94-minute match tested the US star early, though, as the 19-year-old Russian clawed back from a 3-0 deficit in the opening set.
Alina Korneeva Gives Madison Keys a 1st-Round Scare
Korneeva, a product of Rafael Nadal's academy, arrived in New York riding upsets over Emma Navarro and Iva Jovic at the Canadian Open. That confidence carried onto the court. She broke back twice in the first set and fought off a match point while trailing 5-3 in the second before Keys could seal it.
The 2025 Australian Open champion steadied herself by leaning on her serve. After landing just 48% of first serves in the opener, Keys pushed that number closer to 70% in the second set. She also converted all three of her break-point chances to pull clear.
"It's so hard to play the first round of a Grand Slam," Keys said. "So nervous and wanting to do well. So grateful I was able to fight through that."
The result is a welcome reversal after last year's first-round exit at Flushing Meadows. Keys next faces either Lucie Havlickova or Anna Bondar in the second round.
