Defending champion Madison Keys commenced her 2026 Australian Open campaign with a hard-fought first-round victory, overcoming a visibly "nervous" and "jittery" start against Ukrainian debutant Oleksandra Oliynykova. The American, who famously clinched her maiden Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open by defeating Aryna Sabalenka, struggled early in her opening match on Rod Laver Arena. Keys conceded a double break and trailed 0-4 in the first set, and also faced a 0-4 deficit in the ensuing tiebreaker, giving Oliynykova two set points. However, the ninth-seeded Keys managed to compose herself, utilizing her powerful hitting to claw back and ultimately secure the first set 7-6 (6) after a lengthy 72 minutes. This shift in momentum proved crucial, as Keys dominated the second set, conceding only one game to close out the match with a 6-1 score. Keys admitted to being very nervous, having thought about this moment for a year, as she embraced the new experience of being a defending Grand Slam champion. Oliynykova, playing in her first Grand Slam main draw, impressed with her unorthodox style and strong defense, making it a tricky challenge for Keys. Despite the defeat, Oliynykova expressed pride in her performance. This first-round match took place on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, marking Day 3 of the tournament.