Keys tames nerves to beat Korneeva in US Open as Fritz, Cobolli advance

American Madison Keys overcame early jitters to down Russian Alina Korneeva 7-5 6-4 in the first round of the US Open on Tuesday.

Just months after winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, Keys crashed out in the first round at Flushing Meadows last year after being overcome by debilitating nerves.

But Keys felt more at home this time around - improving her first-serve percentage from 48 per cent in the first set to nearly 70 per cent in the second.

She will next meet either Czech Lucie Havlickova or Hungarian Anna Bondar.

"Today is obviously tough, because you go back on the court where you had a really tough loss, and to go back out and play another first round, it's always hard," said the 2017 US Open runner-up. "To have that kind of lingering memory is tough."

On the men's side, American ninth seed Taylor Fritz secured a straight-sets victory against his compatriot Darwin Blanch, winning 6-3 6-2 6-4.

Fifth seed Flavio Cobolli recovered from two sets down to earn a hard-fought victory against Argentine Francisco Comesana 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-4 6-4, in a four-hour-and-13-minute contest.