MELBOURNE, Australia — An earlier start and hot weather were no worries for defending champion Madison Keys and her fellow American Jessica Pegula at the Australian Open on Saturday.
The ninth-seeded Keys beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-3 in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena, while sixth-seeded Pegula defeated Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-3, 6-2 in the first match at Margaret Court Arena.
Next up for the two Americans is a fourth-round encounter against each other.
There was an all-American encounter Saturday as well — fourth-seeded Amanda Anisimova beat Peyton Stearns 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the round of 16.
Play began an hour earlier than initially scheduled on Day 7 because of the forecast of searing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Temperatures during the opening matches hadn’t quite reached that level — only 32 C (89 F). Play was eventually suspended briefly under the extreme heat rules at the tournament, however, while the roofs on Rod Laver, John Cain and Margaret Court Arenas were shut, which forced a delay in play. The outside courts were also suspended as the forecast was for searing temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius, or 104 Fahrenheit.
“I served well, and overall I give myself a full pat on the back for that,” Keys said of her win. “It gives yourself a boost when you can find your best tennis, trust your game and try to do the right things.”
Pegula said she didn’t mind the hotter temperatures — “being a Floridian I was ready for it.”
Keys said she expects a tough match against Pegula in the fourth round.
“Jess is such a great player, consistently doing well in every match she plays,” Keys said. “She is in every single match. It also makes it hard being friends.”
Keys and Pegula, along with several other WTA players, do a podcast called “The Player’s Box,” which chronicles everyday life on tour.
“I think we have to do [one] before the match, so we’ll see how that goes,” Keys said, smiling.
Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open before her scheduled third-round match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis on Saturday, ending a campaign noted strikingly for fashion and friction.
The two-time Australian Open champion announced it on social media without divulging her injury, posting on Instagram that she had to withdraw “to address something my body needs attention for after my last match.”
Osaka won the Australian Open in 2019 and 2021. She won two other Grand Slam titles at the US Open, where she beat Serena Williams in the 2018 final and won again in 2020.
She was seeded 16th for this tournament and was set to play Inglis, ranked No. 168, in a night match on Rod Laver Arena.
Inglis will next face No. 2-ranked Iga Swiatek, who had a 6-1, 1-6, 6-1 win later Saturday over No. 31 Anna Kalinskaya.
In an on-court interview following the match, Swiatek was told of Osaka’s withdrawal.
“Hopefully Naomi is well. She was playing great,” said Swiatek, who is in Australia bidding to complete a career Grand Slam. “It’s exciting to be in a fourth round again.”
To the crowd, she said: “Hopefully you’re not going to be so harsh for me if I’m playing an Australian!”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.