Madison Keys withdraws from 2025 WTA Finals ahead of last round robin match

Madison Keys has withdrawn from the 2025 WTA Finals (1-8 November) with illness, ahead of her last round robin match.

The Australian Open champion from the USA brings her season to a premature end at the women's year-end tennis finals, electing not to play her final scheduled match on Wednesday (5 November) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Keys had lost her first two group in the Serena Williams Group, where she was beaten by Wimbledon champion Iga Świątek and compatriot Amanda Anisimova in three sets. Therefore, the world No. 7 was already unable to progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.

Elena Rybakina, who has already qualified for the semi-finals, was set to be Keys’ third and final opponent, She will now face world No. 10 and second alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, as first alternate Mirra Andreeva elected not to sign up due to match fitness. Rybakina and Alexandrova face off on Wednesday, not before 17:00 local time (AST, GMT+3). Alexandrova will not be able to qualify for the semis.

The 30-year-old Keys was visibly struggling with coughing towards the end of her match against Anisimova on Monday (3 November), and chose not to shake the world No. 4’s hand at the net by signalling that she was unwell.

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