LONDON (Reuters) -There is nothing flashy about Madison Keys, but she knows how to get the job done and that priceless quality was on display as the American eased past Olga Danilovic 6-4 6-2 to reach the Wimbledon third round on Wednesday.
The Australian Open champion is on the hunt for further Grand Slam glory at the All England Club and could become the first woman since the great Serena Williams to win those two majors in the same season.
Yet whereas Williams' ferocious weapons were clear for all to see, sixth seed Keys, herself a big hitter, is more measured.
The 30-year-old has a big forehand and serve, but a potent part of her arsenal is being able to step up when it matters most and it is something she has worked on.
"I think the only thing that I have really changed as far as my mentality within the matches is that I feel like in important points in the past I would maybe try to play almost a little bit too passive," she said.
"So I think now ... my biggest goal when I go onto a tennis court is to walk off and know that I left it all out there. That's kind of just my mentality all of the time, but I think it's just even more highlighted in important moments."
The 37th-ranked Danilovic put up a brave fight, which included saving five break points in one game in the second set, but Keys' consistency meant she never looked like causing an upset.
On paper, the numbers were fairly even. The winners' count was 19-15 in Keys' favour while Danilovic made marginally more unforced errors - but Keys broke her opponent four times and lost her own serve once.
After a nervy opener when she beat Romania's Elena-Gabriela Ruse in three sets, this was far more comfortable for the American - and with rain returning to Wimbledon after scorching temperatures on the first two days, Keys was much happier.
"I definitely felt a little more comfortable today, it's the cloudy, rainy England we know and love so I felt a little more normal," she said.
"I knew that she could play really great tennis, I really just wanted to get a lead and run with it."
Next up for Keys is Germany's Laura Siegmund, who has already achieved her best result at Wimbledon by reaching the third round.
(Reporting by Toby Davis, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)
