Swiatek rediscovers focus to overpower Keys in Riyadh
On the opening night of the WTA Finals, Iga Swiatek harnessed her signature composure to overwhelm Madison Keys, signaling her intent amid the tournament’s high-stakes round-robin format.
In the sleek indoor arena of Riyadh, where the WTA Finals launched under bright lights and a hum of anticipation, Iga Swiatek dismantled Madison Keys with clinical efficiency. The Wimbledon champion required just over an hour to claim a 6-1, 6-2 victory on the hardcourt, her strokes carving through the American’s defenses from the outset. Keys, returning after 68 days away since her US Open first-round loss, found the pace unforgiving as Swiatek dictated every exchange.
Mastering the mental edge
Swiatek’s preparation shone through in her unyielding baseline play, where she redirected Keys’ power with deep crosscourt backhands that forced errors. The Pole varied her attacks, deploying inside-out forehands to stretch her opponent wide before closing with one–two combinations that ended points swiftly. This tactical rhythm not only neutralized Keys’ flat drives but also amplified the psychological pressure in a group stage demanding instant adaptation.
She won 58 of 87 points, a statistic reflecting her dominance in longer rallies where Keys struggled to regain footing on the fast surface.
I was in the zone from the beginning to the end, and I really wanted to keep it that way.
Exploiting the long layoff
Swiatek later reflected on how such an extended break could disrupt timing, evident in Keys’ hesitant returns and serves that lacked their usual bite. The world number one held serve at 80 percent, using the hardcourt’s true bounce to set up aggressive patterns that pinned the American deep. As the second set unfolded, Swiatek’s anticipation turned Keys’ down-the-line attempts into passing-shot opportunities, the crowd’s murmurs building with each unreturned ball.
Group dynamics take shape
In the Serena Williams Group, Keys now confronts a challenging path, potentially needing wins over Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina to advance from the round-robin. Rybakina set the afternoon tone by overpowering Anisimova 6-3, 6-1, underscoring the depth and urgency within the draw. Swiatek’s opener establishes her as the quiet frontrunner, her composure poised to navigate the week’s escalating battles as the Finals test resilience under the Riyadh lights.