MELBOURNE, ‌Jan 24 (Reuters) - Australian Open defending champion Madison ‌Keys raised her game in the Melbourne ‌Park heat to beat Karolina Pliskova 6-3 6-3 and reach the fourth round of the Grand Slam on Saturday.

On a ‍day forecast to hit 40 degrees ‍Celsius (104F), American Keys ‌avoided the worst of the conditions as she dismantled ‍the ​Czech in 75 minutes in the early match at Rod Laver Arena.