By Richard Pagliaro Saturday, November 1, 2025
Image source: WTA Year-End Finals Facebook
Iga Swiatek Turning the purple Riyadh courtroom into a black hole.
Madison Keys Looks lost in space.
Filled with energy and urgency, Swiatek stunned Keys 6-1, 6-2 to start her quest for a second WTA Year-End Finals title.
Swiatek notched her tour-best 62nd win of the season, starting a 1-0 round-robin match in the eight-player WTA finals with Serena Williams.
Two years ago, Swiatek won the title without losing a match.
Today, second seed Swiatek commanded the center of the court, fending off the American and avenging a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(8) loss to Keys in the Australian Open semifinals. It was Swiatek’s sixth win in eight fights against Keys, who started her quest for a 26th career title in commanding form.
She competed in her first game since a surprising match Lost to Renata Zarazua 7-6, 6-7, 5-7 in the first round of the US Open. Keys couldn’t shake off the rust or find a comfort zone with her new short serve instead of the traditional full loop backswing.
Hall of Famer and Tennis Channel analyst Lindsay DavenportKeys’ former coach and longtime confidant said the American didn’t change his serve to protect the shoulder injury. Instead, Davenport said, Keith made a streamlined motion to time the serve more efficiently.
Swiatek scored nine of the first 11 points and played just eight minutes to take a 3-0 lead.
The sharp-edged Swiatek scored 20 of his 23 points in a 5-0 run that left Keys looking completely stunned just 15 minutes into the game.
Case, ranked seventh, held on for 30 points and finished 1-5.
Swiatek ended the lopsided start when Keys missed consecutive forehands.
The former world number one won 16 of 19 service points in the 23-minute match.
Although Swiatek was in cruise control, she double-faulted twice and committed two errors in the second game of the second set, giving Keys a chance to break serve, her first slowdown of the match.
When Keys sent his second double fault of the game, Swiatek broke serve again, 2-1.
Although Keys saved two match points after Swiatek served for the win, she was unable to make headway in the set.
On her third match point, Swiatek served in the 61st minute.
