Swiatek Beats Keys, Extends Opening-Match Streak

Iga Swiatek began her 2025 WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Madison Keys, closing the match in about 61 minutes after winning 12 of the first 14 points and breaking serve five times. The win marked Swiatek’s 10th WTA Finals round-robin victory — tying Chris Evert and Caroline Wozniacki — and extended her unbeaten record in opening matches across the past four years (69 tournaments). Keys, playing her first match since a US Open first-round loss and hampered earlier by a wrist issue, struggled with errors under Swiatek’s pressure. Observers noted a shortened serving motion, and Swiatek credited recent work with coach Wim Fissette for finding the right balance between aggression and consistency. Swiatek will next face Elena Rybakina, who also won her opener, as the Riyadh event — the second WTA Finals staged in Saudi Arabia — runs with a record $15.5 million prize pool and a final scheduled for November 8.