Why Madison Keys and Amanda Anisimova didn’t shake hands after WTA Finals defeat
Madison Keys signalled that she was feeling ill as she avoided shaking hands with Amanda Anisimova after her defeat to her fellow American at the WTA Finals.
Keys, the Australian Open champion, is now out of the WTA Finals after defeats to Iga Swiatek and Anisimova in her first two matches in Riyadh.
Anisimova and Keys both struggled throughout the match, which was their first meeting. Anisimova was visibly upset as she trailed by a set and a break but recovered to win 4-6 6-3 6-2.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 18:23
From 12:00pm GMT: (2) Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend vs (3) Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe
Not before 2pm GMT: (3) Coco Gauff vs (8) Jasmine Paolini
Followed by: (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (5) Jessica Pegula
Followed by: 5) Mirra Andreeva and Diana Shnaider vs (7) Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 18:23
Elena Rybakina produced a storming comeback to beat Iga Swiatek and reach the last four at the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Kazakhstan’s Rybakina lost the first set after a single break in 36 minutes, but turned the match on its head in the second and went on to win 12 of the next 13 games.
World number two Swiatek thrashed Madison Keys 6-1 6-2 in her opening Serena Williams Group round-robin clash, but was twice broken in the second set against Rybakina before being bageled in the decider to lose 6-3 1-6 0-6.
Rybakina, who had lost each of her previous four matches against Swiatek, has now played two and won two in Riyadh following a 6-3 6-1 win over Amanda Anisimova in her tournament opener.
Fourth seed Anisimova bounced back and also recovered from a set down against fellow American Keys to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 in their second round-robin match.
World number six Rybakina next faces Keys, while Swiatek takes on Anisimova in the group’s final matches.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 18:21
Madison Keys eliminated as Elena Rybakina goes through
Madison Keys signals to Amanda Anisimova that she doesn’t want to shake hands because she is feeling ill.
The Australian Open champion is now out of the WTA Finals after two defeats – with her match against Elena Rybakina now a dead-rubber.
Rybakina is through as the group winner, while Anisimova and Iga Swiatek will face off on Wednesday to decide who goes through.
Anisimova and Swiatek, of course, met in two memorable matches, for very different reasons, at Wimbledon and the US Open over the summer.
Anisimova recovered from a set down to beat Madison Keys (AFP via Getty Images)
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 18:02
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-3 6-2 Madison Keys
Having been in such distress at a set and a break down, Amanda Anisimova completes the comeback to beat Madison Keys and knock her follow American out of the WTA Finals.
That was not pretty. But Anisimova was able to regather herself, having been struggling to keep the ball in play. Keys was also struggling throughout the match, and it was her errors that made the difference in the deciding set.
Even the final game was a struggle, with Anisimova making a double fault and more errors, but she somehow got over the line.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 18:00
*Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-3 5-2 Madison Keys
Keys battles through two double faults to force Anisimova to serve it out.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 17:53
Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-3 5-1 Madison Keys*
An ace out wide from Anisimova, who moves a game away. She’s kept her foot down since taking back control and Keys is offering very little resistance.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 17:49
*Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-3 4-1 Madison Keys
Keys saves three break points in a row but can’t prevent Anisimova from opening up the double-break lead. A further error from Keys should leave the Australian Open champion with too much to do, barring another remarkable comeback.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 17:46
Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-3 3-1 Madison Keys*
Errors from Keys see Anisimova take a 30-0 lead and the American then finds some touch to put the drop shot away. Anisimova finds a good serve down the middle to the game, and is looking much steadier now.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 17:41
*Amanda Anisimova 4-6 6-3 2-1 Madison Keys
Keys ends the run of games at seven in a row – Anisimova puts the backhand return out of play and Keys gets on the board in the third set, but Anisimova is still in control with the break and improving her level.
Jamie Braidwood3 November 2025 17:37