Follow us on Google Discover Madison Keys’ 2025 WTA Finals campaign didn’t quite go to plan…
Competing at the event for the first time in nine years, Keys was placed in ‘Group Serena Williams’, with Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Amanda Anisimova.
Playing her first match since the US Open, Keys was hammered by Swiatek, 1-6, 2-6, leaving her semifinal hopes hanging by a thread.
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Then, despite winning the first set, Keys lost to Anisimova, 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, as she exited the competition at the round robin stage, just as she did back in 2016.
Weighing in with her thoughts on Keys’ efforts in Riyadh, doubles legend Rennae Stubbs had plenty of questions to ask.
Rennae Stubbs thinks Madison Keys may be suffering from a shoulder issue
During the latest episode of the ‘Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, the 54-year-old identified a change Keys has made to her serve recently.
“Madi Keys was coming in here, not playing in Cincinnati and at the US Open, and now has this random abbreviation to her serve motion,” she said.
“We don’t know what is going on there. She changed serve at the Australian Open and going into the Aussie Open, bringing the leg up. I love it. It protects her hip and helps her adductors, where she tends to have a lot of injuries.
“Now you think what is going on with this abbreviation of her serve? Just taking the racket head up quickly, is that because she has a shoulder issue? Is that something she is mentally trying to get?
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“I don’t know. There have been so many iterations of this serve now. You wonder what is going on. Is it mental or physical?”
Stubbs then gave her assessment of Keys’ WTA Finals campaign, where the American lost her opening two matches.
Group Serena WilliamsPositionNameWin-LossSet (Win-Loss)Games (Win-Loss)Status1stElena Rybakina2-04-127-11Qualified for SF2ndIga Swiatek1-13-219-18Currently qualifying3rdAmanda Anisimova1-12-320-23Not currently qualifying4thMadison Keys0-21-414-28Eliminated2025 WTA Finals ‘Group Serena Williams’ standings
“Not having played since the US Open, you just knew there was very little chance that she was going to beat Iga [Swiatek] in the first round, because Iga is a nightmare in the first round because she is 100mph from the word go,” she said.
“She obviously ran out of steam against Amanda Anisimova in the third set and wasn’t feeling well, because of the handshake and lack thereof.”
Choosing to withdraw from her final group stage match, Keys will now turn her attention to the 2026 Australian Open, where she’ll look to defend the title she won earlier this year.
How did Madison Keys win the 2025 Australian Open?
Keys entered the Australian Open full of confidence, following her win at the Adelaide International warm-up event.
Carrying that momentum forward to Melbourne, Keys qualified for her second major final, where she met the world number one, Sabalenka.
Madison Keys’ route to the 2025 Australian Open final2025 Australian Open 1R – Madison Keys defeated Ann Li (6-4, 7-5)2025 Australian Open 2R – Madison Keys defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse (7-6, 2-6, 7-5)2025 Australian Open 3R – Madison Keys defeated Danielle Collins (6-4, 6-4)2025 Australian Open 4R – Madison Keys defeated Elena Rybakina (6-3, 1-6, 6-3)2025 Australian Open QF – Madison Keys defeated Elina Svitolina (3-6, 6-3, 6-4)2025 Australian Open SF – Madison Keys defeated Iga Swiatek (5-7, 6-1, 7-6)
It was Keys who started strongest in the final, taking a 6-3 lead on Rod Laver Arena, but Sabalenka wasn’t prepared to go down without a fight.
Finding another level in the second, Sabalenka won the set 6-2, forcing a decider.
Achieving her lifelong dream, Keys won the final set 7-5, to become a Grand Slam champion for the first time in her career.
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Only time will tell if she can repeat the feat in 2026, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.
The 2026 Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 12.