Elena Rybakina secured her place in the fourth round of the 2025 Cincinnati Open by overcoming Elise Mertens in a challenging three-set match. The Kazakh player acknowledged areas needing improvement as she prepared to face <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/tag/madison-keys/”>Madison Keys in the upcoming round, highlighting the significance of the match ahead.

After dropping the first set 4-6, Rybakina fought back vigorously, dominating the second set 6-3 with consistent, controlled groundstrokes and patient rallying. Despite facing pressure in the deciding set, she maintained her composure to win 7-5, cementing her progression in the tournament.

Her next opponent, Madison Keys, the home crowd favorite and reigning Australian Open champion, advanced comfortably past Japan’s Aoi Ito. Rybakina admitted she had been unaware she would be matched against Keys, adding an unexpected element to her preparations.

I actually didn’t know that I’m going to play against her, but I mean it’s a tough opponent again,

she said during her post-match on-court interview.—Elena Rybakina

Reflecting on their previous encounters, Rybakina recognizes Keys as a challenging adversary and understands the importance of refining her serve and minimizing errors.

We’ve been playing before and it was always a tough battle, so I definitely need to improve my serve for this match and try to stay consistent. Fewer unforced errors and yeah, try my best and let’s see how it goes,

she added.—Elena Rybakina

Keys Holds Slim Advantage in Head-to-Head Meetings with Rybakina

Madison Keys currently leads their head-to-head record 3–2 after five previous meetings, including a recent victory in the Australian Open’s fourth round. This gives Keys an edge heading into the Cincinnati Open clash, where she will seek to extend her advantage.

Before that Australian Open encounter, Rybakina had won two consecutive matches against Keys, triumphing in Miami last year and in Ostrava in 2022. Rybakina also enters the Cincinnati Open on strong form, having reached the semifinals in recent tournaments held in Washington, DC, and Montreal.

In contrast, Keys has competed primarily in Montreal during the North American hard court swing this season, where she reached the quarterfinals. Both players’ recent records suggest a competitive match is ahead as they vie for a place in the Cincinnati Open quarterfinals.