Last year's winner advances to third round of the Australian Open

"I started very well and Ash started a little slower," Keys said after the victory against compatriot Ashlyn Krueger.

The first set ended 6–1; the second was much closer, 7–5.

"I expected her to raise the bar, and she did."

In the next round, Keys will face either Karolina Pliskova from the Czech Republic or Janice Tjen from Indonesia.