- Jewish students block Austria far-right parliament speaker at Holocaust memorial
- Spain's grim search for flood missing moves to coast
- European businesses brace for Trump return
- 11 bodies found in Mexico truck were of missing group: prosecutors
- Germany's embattled Scholz open to talks on early election
- UN peacekeepers say Israel army damages south Lebanon position
- Toll from Mozambique election protests up to at least 30
- Superstar Dupont raring to go for France return
- First flight with Israelis evacuated from Amsterdam lands in Tel Aviv
- Resilient but threatened, Kenya celebrates Maa culture
- Van Nistelrooy accepts Man Utd lack a clinical striker
- Maresca says Chelsea can beat 'any team'
- Kolisi on the bench as Springboks ring changes for Scotland clash
- Israeli football supporters back home after Amsterdam violence
- Stock markets waver after US election rally, rate cut
- Guardiola will 'solve' Man City's malaise
- Russia seeks six years for medic for criticising Ukraine campaign
- Leveraging Trump win, embattled Macron eyes diplomatic comeback
- England cricket great Botham hails Hughes for Aussie croc rescue
- Mbappe 'down but not out' says Real Madrid coach Ancelotti
- Arsenal ready to rebound after troubled spell: Arteta
- Cartier owner's profit sinks as China sales slump
- UN aims to set standards for scandal-hit carbon markets
- Australia rugby captain Wilson aiming to hit England for six
- Amsterdam mayor 'ashamed' by 'unbearable' attacks on Israel football fans
- UN probe says women, children comprise the majority of Gaza war dead
- England's Lawrence eager to face rising Wallabies star Suaalii
- Judge Spurs at end of the season, says Postecoglou
- Paris Olympic horses to be awarded military medals
- Flood-hit Spain drenched by wettest October on record
- Spain call up uncapped trio for Nations League
- INEOS Britannia named as challenger for 38th America's Cup
- Scarlets wing Murray set for Wales debut against Fiji
- Stocks falter tracking US, China policy updates
- Prince William reflects on 'brutal' year as Kate returns to public life
- After Trump win, EU leaders tackle 'urgent' reform agenda
- France expects massive slump in 2024 wine harvest
- Leaders condemn 'anti-Semitic' football clashes in Amsterdam
- China passes energy law to 'promote carbon neutrality'
- Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool
- Kagiyama leads Miura at NHK Trophy
- China unveils sweeping local govt debt swap to lift ailing economy
- Partial UN probe of Gaza war dead over 6 months shows 'nearly 70%' women, children
- 'Anti-government' samosa theft prompts India police probe
- Qantas plane returns to Australia airport due to 'engine failure'
- Ayub hits 82 as Pakistan crush Australia in 2nd ODI
- Russian drones, missiles pummel cities across Ukraine
- First artwork by humanoid robot sells for over $1.0 million
- China to raise local govt debt ceiling to boost struggling economy
- Climate change poses multiple risks for banks
RBGPF | 0.02% | 61.4 | $ | |
RYCEF | -0.84% | 7.15 | $ | |
CMSC | 0.16% | 24.72 | $ | |
VOD | -0.76% | 9.25 | $ | |
AZN | -0.07% | 64.645 | $ | |
NGG | -0.95% | 63.695 | $ | |
BP | -3.26% | 28.87 | $ | |
RIO | -5.25% | 64.105 | $ | |
BTI | 0.03% | 35.41 | $ | |
GSK | -1.12% | 36.255 | $ | |
SCS | 0% | 13.08 | $ | |
RELX | 0.64% | 47.968 | $ | |
BCC | 0.71% | 141.86 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.04% | 24.9 | $ | |
BCE | 1.23% | 28.42 | $ | |
JRI | 0.31% | 13.412 | $ |
Keys says more relaxed approach is serving her well
Madison Keys credited a more relaxed approach to helping her stun eighth seed Paula Badosa to power into an Australian Open quarter-finals for a third time Sunday.
The unseeded American endured a torrid 2021, but she is in great form in Australia and dominated Badosa 6-3, 6-1 in sweltering heat on Rod Laver Arena.
It put her into a last-eight clash with French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova, who romped past two-time Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka in straight sets.
Keys, who beat 2020 champion Sofia Kenin in the first round, said she had brought a fresh perspective into 2022 after struggling with the Covid-enforced bubble life on tour last year.
"I don't really thrive when my entire life becomes about tennis. I start thinking about it too much. It just starts becoming a little bit overwhelming for me," she said.
"Not being able to get out, go for walks, separate myself from the tournament a little bit, got really difficult.
"My biggest mindset change is just trying to enjoy tennis, take some of that just internal pressure that I was putting on myself. It was honestly freezing me," she added.
"I felt like I couldn't play at all. Just taking that away and putting tennis into perspective: that it's a sport, something that when I was little I enjoyed doing and loved doing it."
Both players, among the tour's biggest ball-strikers, have been in fine early season form.
Last weekend, Keys picked up the Adelaide International title while Badosa upset Krejcikova to win the Sydney Classic.
But Keys was always in charge and exceptional in the opening set with Badosa having few answers to her consistent returns and strong serves.
Keys broke the Spaniard's first service game and gave Badosa little chance to strike back, slamming down serves at 188 kilometres per hour (117 miles per hour) and winning more than 80 percent of her first-serve points.
She closed out the set with 16 winners to her opponent's four.
Badosa started taking more risks in the second set and landed some perfect returns to put pressure on the Keys serve.
They exchanged breaks before Keys' consistency and precision saw her break three more times to wipe the Spaniard off court.
Keys, the 2017 US Open finalist, has played some of her best tennis in Australia, making the semi-finals 2015 and the quarters three years later with a sparkling 24-8 career record at Melbourne Park.
But she is wary of Krejcikova next up.
"I think she's just making tennis look easy. It seems like no matter what people are doing, she very quickly figures it out and has another game plan to quickly implement," she said.
"So that would be tough to play against."
L.Janezki--BTB