Kimerly birrell

Adelaide QF: Defending champion Madison Keys registered a 6-4, 6-1 win over Tereza Valentova to reach the Adelaide International quarter-finals for the second consecutive year on Wednesday.

Keys overcame seven double faults and saved five break points to secure the first set in 49 minutes. Valentova pushed to stay in it, but Keys ripped a forehand return winner off the 18-year-old’s second serve to break for a 2-0 lead in the second set. From there, she won four of the final five games to close out a hard-earned victory, according to WTA.

"They’re just so young, and they have so much energy, and they’re so excited to be out here. And they’re just so good. So you definitely have to just expect them to play some really great tennis, and like I said, try to lean on experience in those big moments and just kind of hope that that gets you across the finish line," said Keys.