World No. 4 Amanda Anisimova had to dig deep to keep her WTA Finals campaign alive. With both Americans entering their second round-robin match knowing a loss would end their stay at the season finale, the stakes could not have been higher. Despite conceding the first set, the 24-year-old regained her composure and mounted a strong comeback to secure a crucial victory.
However, Anisimova was quick to admit that Keys pushed her to the limit, praising her compatriot’s level and noting that she was “playing crazy tennis.”
Amanda Anisimova Reflects on Her WTA Finals Match Against Madison Keys
Both players stepped onto the court under pressure after opening the tournament with defeats. Anisimova initially edged ahead 3-2, but Keys quickly seized control, breaking her in the ninth game before confidently wrapping up the set 6-4.
Keys made a promising start in the second set, breaking early and maintaining control until Anisimova clawed her way back to 3-3. The World No. 4 then imposed her authority, sweeping the next three games to take the set 6-3. From that moment, Anisimova dictated the terms of play. She shifted the momentum entirely in the decider, eventually securing it 6-2 and knocking her compatriot out of the season-ending event.
Although Anisimova ultimately emerged victorious, she was quick to credit Keys for pushing her into a fierce battle. At the same time, she expressed satisfaction with her ability to shift the momentum and finish the match on her terms.
“I fell like every time I come out here my opponent is playing crazy tennis. It’s been a difficult few matches and today for sure, Maddy was playing so well and it was quite a battle out there. Just really happy with the way I was able to turn around in the second set, kind of turned that frown upside down,” she said during her on-court interview.
Amanda Anisimova on beating Keys at WTA Finals in Riyadh
“I feel like every time I come out here my opponent is playing crazy tennis 😂.. Today Madi was playing so well.. Just happy with how I was able to turn it around & turn that frown upside down” 😭
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2025
When asked about the adjustments she planned to make after dropping the first set and regrouping at the changeover, she responded:
“I think I forgot that I play indoors here so just doing opposite of what I would normally do. Yeah, just made some adjustments and just tried to play a little bit of a different game than I was playing before, but nonetheless she was still playing great, and it was an exciting match, and it was nice to have a little bit of a fight out there,” she added.
Anisimova later noted that while her strong season, marked by two WTA 1000 titles and Grand Slam final appearances, fuels her confidence, she fully recognizes the daunting challenge of taking on the world’s best at the WTA Finals.
“Yeah for sure it helps. I went into this tournament with a lot of confidence. But obviously, everyone here is at the top level, and I am playing against the best in the world, so every match is going to be a really tough match. But that’s what I was looking forward to, really tough challenges. And it’s what I am here to try and face and see how I can overcome those obstacles,” she added.
All four players in the Serena Williams group have now completed two round-robin matches. With victories over both Anisimova and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina has already secured her place in the semifinals. Conversely, Keys’ two early losses have confirmed her exit from the competition. As a result, Wednesday’s showdown between Anisimova and Swiatek will decide the second semifinalist from the group.