Iga Swiatek opened her WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh with a commanding win over Madison Keys, dispatching the American 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour. The Polish star, ranked No. 2 in the world, looked sharp and composed, extending her head-to-head dominance over Keys to 7-2. Her performance was clinical, marked by aggressive baseline play and tactical precision.
“Honestly, I’m happy about everything; all the things that I practiced worked,” Swiatek said.
Collapse Against Rybakina and Anisimova
Despite the early momentum, Swiatek faltered in her subsequent matches. Against Elena Rybakina, she took the first set 6-3 but unraveled in the next two, losing 6-1, 6-0. The match was riddled with 36 unforced errors from Swiatek, a stark contrast to her usual consistency. Her final group-stage match against Amanda Anisimova followed a similar pattern: a strong start followed by a loss in three sets, sealing her exit from the tournament.
Processing the Disappointment
Swiatek’s post-match reflections revealed a mix of disbelief and introspection. She acknowledged feeling physically and mentally prepared, yet couldn’t pinpoint why her campaign ended prematurely.
“I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise also it was nice, looking at the conditions and everything. So I don’t really get why I couldn’t go out of the group. Maybe I won too much in the last years and this is karma. It’s really hard for me to say,”
Swiatek said.Her remarks suggest a deeper struggle with the unpredictability of elite competition and the emotional toll of unmet expectations.
Looking Ahead
Swiatek is projected to finish the season ranked No. 2, just behind Aryna Sabalenka. Despite the setback in Riyadh, her 2025 season included a Wimbledon title and a tour-leading 62 match wins. The disappointment at the WTA Finals may fuel her drive heading into 2026, as she continues to evolve both tactically and mentally.
Iga Swiatek in 2025
Currently ranked no.2, Iga played her last match on the 5th of November when she defeated world no.7 Madison Keys 6-1 6-2 in the round robin in Riyadh (draw).
This season Swiatek achieved a composed 62-17 win-loss record. Iga has won 3 titles in 2025 in Wimbledon, Cincinnati and Seoul. Iga got to the final in Australia and Bad Homburg.