Keys unlocks Krejcikova as Nadal edges toward 21 Slams

MELBOURNE – Madison Keys continued her impeccable start to the 2022 season with a straight-sets destruction of fourth seed Barbora Krejcikova on Thursday to set up a potential Australian Open women’s semi-final against Ashleigh Barty.

In the men’s draw, Rafael Nadal was looking to continue his march to a record 21st Slam title as the tournament reached the quarter-final stage.

But a hot morning on Melbourne Park’s centre court, Rod Laver Arena, belonged to the unseeded world number 51 Keys, who was a semi-finalist in 2015 but endured a terrible 2021 where she tumbled down the rankings.

“It means a lot,” said Keys, who won 6-3, 6-2 against the French Open champion Krejcikova, who needed medical attention in the heat during the first set. “Last year was really…