Tennis-Keys keen to avoid return to 'dark pit of despair'

FILE PHOTO: Aug 30, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Madison Keys of the USA hits to Sloan Stephens of the USA (not pictured) on day one of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Madison Keys is cautiously optimistic she has found a way out of the "deep, dark pit of despair" which stalled her career, as the former Flushing Meadows finalist heads into the Australian Open in confident mood after winning in Adelaide on Saturday.

American Keys will take on 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin in the first round at Melbourne Park after her straight-sets win over Alison Riske delivered the 26-year-old her first title since 2019 at the Adelaide International 2 warm-up event.