Big wins for Swiatek, Rybakina open WTA Finals in Riyadh
Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina both started their campaigns strongly in their opening round-robin matches.
Iga Swiatek, 2025 | © Imago / PsNewz
Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina posted commanding victories in the opening round-robin matches of the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Saturday, each player kickstarting her campaign for the year-end title in clinical fashion.
Swiatek, ranked No. 2 in the world, defeated Australian Open champion Madison Keys 6-1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes at the King Saud University Indoor Arena. The Polish player, a four-time French Open champion and this year’s Wimbledon winner, broke Keys’ serve five times and won 58 of the 87 points played.
Swiatek took command from the outset, winning 12 of the first 14 points and leading 3-0 in the opening minutes. Keys, appearing in her first match since a first-round loss at the US Open in August, struggled to find rhythm and committed 15 unforced errors for just one winner in the opening set. Swiatek closed the first set in 23 minutes, and after a brief exchange of breaks at the start of the second, she regained control as Keys donated two double faults to trail again.
Swiatek aiming for a second WTA Finals crown
Swiatek is aiming to add a second WTA Finals crown to her résumé, having won her first in 2023. She now holds a 6-2 career edge over Keys and has recorded the most wins on tour in 2025 with 62. The Pole’s efficient win delivers a strong platform as group play continues.
After her, Rybakina, seeded sixth and the 2022 Wimbledon champion, defeated American fourth seed Amanda Anisimova 6-3, 6-1 in 57 minutes. Rybakina landed seven aces, won 87 percent of points on her first serve, and broke Anisimova’s serve four times in five opportunities.
The Kazakh player, coming off a season highlighted by deep runs at Roland-Garros and the US Open, controlled the match with aggressive baseline play and efficient serving. Rybakina advanced to the WTA Finals after winning the Ningbo Open in October, securing her spot as the eighth and final qualifier based on year-end rankings.
Anisimova struggled
Anisimova, a Grand Slam finalist twice this year, struggled on return against Rybakina’s pace and accuracy, dropping serve three times in the second set. Rybakina’s recent form was strong before this dru defeat, having accumulated the most WTA-level wins since the US Open and recovering from a late-season injury that forced a withdrawal in Tokyo.
The WTA Finals in Riyadh brings together the tour’s top eight players in a round-robin format, with a record prize pool of $15.5 million and up to 1,500 ranking points for the champion. Saturday’s results place Swiatek and Rybakina atop the Serena Williams Group in the early standings. Group matches continue throughout the week, with the highest performers advancing to the semifinals.
Keys, who returned to action after a 68-day layoff due to injury, will need at least one win in her remaining round-robin matches to have a chance of progressing. Anisimova faces a similar scenario after her opening loss.
