Tennis
2025-11-01 - Iga Swiatek vs Madison Keys
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
Tennis: WTA Finals Group Stage
Saturday 1st November 2025 - Scheduled 6pm
3pm (British Time)
Preview
These are two of the more surprising Grand Slam Winners of recent times as they prepare to open the WTA Finals in Riyadh.
Madison Keys winning the Australian Open was an upset, but the American fully deserved her success with wins over four players Ranked inside the top 11 and including wins over both the World Number 1 and World Number 2. The margins might have been tight and she has had over a month away from the Tour since losing in the First Round at the US Open, but Madison Keys insists that it has given her the time to refresh.
It has been a long time since Madison Keys last played at the WTA Finals and she will be opening up against Iga Swiatek who surprisingly won the title at Wimbledon having come up short at the other Slams.
The World Number 2 has had another very good year on the hard courts, but the last few tournaments on the surface have not seen Iga Swiatek at her absolute best. Despite that, Swiatek has won a title in Seoul, although the Quarter Final defeats in New York City and Wuhan have also been alongside a Last 16 defeat in Beijing.
The recent losses to Emma Navarro and Jasmine Paolini were in very disappointing performances and Madison Keys has the serving power to keep herself in this opening match.
Madison Keys has not really been able to sustain the form that took her to the Australian Open title- she had room for improvement from the level that was shown in Melbourne, but it has been a steady rather than spectacular year.
It has meant not having much of an impact in hard court tournaments entered since becoming a Grand Slam Champion and Madison Keys reached the Semi Final in Indian Wells and Quarter Final in Montreal, but had lost early in Miami, Cincinnati and New York City.
The American has won the last two hard court matches played against Iga Swiatek, which includes in the Australian Open Semi Final. She also pushed the World Number 2 in a defeat on the clay courts favoured by Swiatek at the Madrid Masters and Madison Keys should enjoy the indoor conditions at the WTA Finals.
The World Number 7 is going to have to serve well and she is going to have to find her rhythm quickly, but Madison Keys has enjoyed this match up on the faster surfaces and she can give Iga Swiatek something to think about.
This feels like Madison Keys is being given perhaps a game too many on the handicap and especially if the underdog can find her comfort on the court reasonably quickly.
Last year Iga Swiatek was upset in the Group Stage of the WTA Finals and she may have to battle to earn an opening win in 2025, which makes the games being given to Madison Keys look too many here.
Prediction
Take the games on offer with the underdog.
The Pick :
Iga Swiatek 2-1 Madison Keys
