| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 |
|---|---|---|
| D. Aiava (AUS) | 2 | 2 |
| M. Keys (USA) [17] | 6 | 6 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by M. Keys | 2 - 6 | M. Keys leads 0 to 2 |
| Set won by M. Keys | 2 - 6 | M. Keys leads 0 to 1 |
Destanee Aiava will kick off her Australian Open campaign with an uphill battle as she takes on Madison Keys in the first round. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11am (AEDT).
Part of Australia’s next generation of up and coming tennis players, Aiava, at just 18 years of age, will go into her second Australian Open ranked just inside the top 200 in the world, but up on confidence.
While the wins weren’t against major players, Aiava started her 2019 season on the right foot, getting through the qualifiers and then winning a main draw match as well as she knocked out Kristina Mladenovic in an outstanding straight sets display.
After a rough finish to 2018 on the Australian domestic scene, where she finished with three straight losses, Aiava had her baseline game going strong in Brisbane to win the four matches.
If anything, it’ll remind the 18-year-old that she is good enough to mix it with more talented players, and regardless of result, she will learn plenty in another hit out on Rod Laver Arena here.
On the other side of the net, Madison Keys is still waiting for her grand slam breakthrough.
She has been to the pointy end of plenty of tournaments now, including a pair of semi-final appearances at the 2018 French and US Open, but she still hasn’t been able to get the job done.
The American, who fell to No.17 in the world after a similarly poor end to 2018 through the Asian swing, hasn’t played a match at all so far in 2019, and that could work against her.
With only three sets to get it right, if the rust is evident early, Aiava will try to make the most of it, running Keys around the court and trying to limit the American’s power game.
However, the biggest problem for Aiava is that if Keys manages to find her power game and range on the court early, there are very few players on the WTA tour who would be able to stop her.
Aiava also has no experience in dealing with Keys, given the pair have never faced off before this meeting.
Prediction
Keys is going to be too strong for Aiava, with the only question being around her match fitness on a hot Melbourne day.
Keys in straight sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 11am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Destanee? What's the go these days with the spelling of Christian names? Just to be different or can't parents spell?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me for live coverage of this first match on Day 2 at the Australian Open. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. I'll be back shortly for Daria Gavrilova and Tamara Zidansek, but in the meantime, be sure to flick across to our tennis live scores page to stay across every match at Melbourne Park. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Madison Keys defeats Destanee Aiava in straight sets Madison Keys has advanced to the second round of the 2019 Australian Open and while the performance was far from perfect, there are plenty of positives to take out of the contest for the American. Keys started strongly and got an early break in the first set, followed up by another. The second set went roughly the same way, but Keys had a large of opportunities to get the break which went by the wayside. A lack of lead-up tournament to the first grand slam of the year told for Keys as she struggled at times to find her range on the all-powerful serve and groundstroke game. The unforced error count must be cut down on if she wishes to compete with the big guns later in the tournament. Even without the perfect performance from Keys, it was hardly a question of result, with Aiava clearly a level below Keys in terms of court positioning, shot selection and power. Keys now takes on either Pauline Parmentier or Anastasia Potapova in the second round. Aiava... 2 2 Keys..... 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, MADISON KEYS Wide serve and the backhand is returned into the net by Aiava, so just like that, Keys has put together a very solid victory over Aiava. Aiava... 2 2 Keys..... 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, returned into the net and here are three match points for Keys after 71 minutes. Aiava... 2 2 - 0 Keys..... 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Keys. The second is returned on a backhand and that goes long. Aiava... 2 2 - 0 Keys..... 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys serving for the match then. Starts with a fault, then Aiava runs around for a forehand, before Keys gets some luck off the net. Aiava... 2 2 - 0 Keys..... 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
KEYS HAS A DOUBLE BREAK A fault from Aiava. The second is returned on the backhand and that's landed nicely, with Aiava unable to get that back into the court. Double break for Keys and she is about to serve for the match. Aiava... 2 2 - Keys..... 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aiava saves one. Keys goes after the return and it goes long. Aiava... 2 2 - 30 Keys..... 6 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Regulation forehand error this time from Aiava after a good return and here are two points for a double break. Aiava... 2 2 - 15 Keys..... 6 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Double fault from Aiava. Aiava... 2 2 - 15 Keys..... 6 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aiava fires a wide serve and the backhand return is hit into the net. Aiava... 2 2 - 15 Keys..... 6 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aiava up to the net this time and she volleys into the net. Didn't get in quick enough there. Aiava... 2 2 - 0 Keys..... 6 4 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Good defence from Aiava, but Keys is too good. Hits the backpedalling overhead, then manages to get a volley away into the open court. Aiava... 2 2 - Keys..... 6 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Aiava... 2 2 - 30 Keys..... 6 3 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
What a return! Aiava picks that up early and crunches the backhand to the corner of the court. Aiava... 2 2 - 30 Keys..... 6 3 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aiava gets the return in this time, but the next ball is well out of play. Aiava... 2 2 - 15 Keys..... 6 3 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Keys now fires a forehand wide. Aiava... 2 2 - 15 Keys..... 6 3 - 15