In their first two meetings this season, Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys went the distance. The American memorably saved a match point to win one of the season’s best clashes in the Australian Open semifinals ahead of celebrating her maiden major title, before Swiatek battled back to prevail in the Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinals three months later.
Opening singles play at the WTA Finals in Riyadh Saturday, their 2025 rubber match was a completely different story. Swiatek dominated from start to finish, 6-1, 6-2, to seal the Serena Williams Group meeting in just 61 minutes.
“All the things that I practiced, I got it together today to play with the right balance in terms of being solid and aggressive,” she said during her on-court interview. “I’m overall happy with the work that I put after the China swing, especially in Warsaw. That gives me confidence to go forward and develop as a player. I’m happy that I could bring my game today and I’ll be ready to do that in the next days.”