At the start of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Poland’s former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek proved why she’s the top seed with a dominant straight‑sets win over American Madison Keys. Swiatek ran through the match 6‑1, 6‑2 in just 61 minutes, breaking Keys’ serve five times. The 24‑year‑old said her serve and focus were the keys to her success. “I was in the zone from start to finish,” she told reporters.
Keys, who came back after a month‑long injury break and a first‑round exit at the US Open, looked a bit sluggish. She said she had a minor injury that kept her from playing at 100 %. “I kept trying to play through it, but I realized the best move was to get healthy and give the finals a real shot,” Keys said after practice.
In the same evening, No. 6 seed Elena Rybakina knocked off No. 4 seed Amanda Anisimova 6‑3, 6‑1. Rybakina used her experience to dominate from the very first game, winning the match in 57 minutes. The Russian moved into the top four of the opening‑round group, while Anisimova will need to win her remaining two games to keep her chance at the semifinals.
The first day also saw Swiatek, the Wimbledon champion and current season leader with 62 tour‑level wins, mark her first victory in the Serena Williams Group. Keys will still have two matches to win if she wants to advance and finish with a better record—she’s 1‑3 in her career at year‑end championships, having first won in 2016.
With Swiatek already on a hot streak and Rybakina taking control of her group, the Riyadh WTA Finals promise plenty of drama. Tennis fans can expect more high‑octane matches as the event moves into its second day.
Source: ianslive
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