Keys tames nerves to beat Korneeva in US Open first round

NEW YORK, Sept 1 : American Madison Keys overcame early jitters to down Russian Alina Korneeva 7-5 6-4 in the first round of the U.S. Open on Tuesday, exorcising the demons of her early exit a year ago.Just months after winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2025 Australian Open, Keys crashed out in the first round at Flushing Meadows 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."It's so hard to play the first round of a Grand Slam. So nervous and wanting to do well," said Keys. "So grateful I was able to fight through that." Keys looked at first as though she wou