Jan 14 (Reuters) - Madison ‌Keys said she was preparing to handle the added scrutiny of returning to ‌the Australian Open as defending champion, while fellow American Coco Gauff appears poised ‌to make a deep run when the season's first Grand Slam begins on Sunday.

Keys sealed her long-awaited major breakthrough under the lights at Melbourne Park last year, beating Aryna Sabalenka in a gripping final to deny the ‍world number one a third straight Australian Open crown.