2023 WTA tournament champion Iga Świątek will face sixth-ranked Elena Rybakina in her second round-robin match of the WTA Finals on Monday, November 3.
Świątek was in imperious form during her tournament opener in Riyadh on Saturday. The Pole won 82% (23/28) of her break points to beat a rusty Madison Keys 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and one minute. As a result of her win, the World No. 2 improved to an 11-4 win-loss record at the elite tournament.
Rybakina, meanwhile, is playing just as well and is on course to prove her doubters wrong at this year’s WTA Finals. The World No. 6 made quick work of Amanda Anisimova to kick off her third career appearance at the year-end championships in fine fashion, coming through 6-3, 6-1 in 58 minutes.
Iga Świątek vs Elena Rybakina Match Details
Date: Nov. 3, 2025
Tournament: WTA Finals 2025
Round: Round-robin
Venue: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Category: WTA Finals
Surface: Indoor Hardcourt
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, TSN, Sky Sports
Świątek vs Keys Head-to-Head
Świątek leads Rybakina by a margin of 6-4 in their head-to-head meetings on the WTA Tour. The Pole has won five of their seven hardcourt clashes, including victories against the Kazakh at this year’s Cincinnati Open and Qatar Open.
In the 2024 Qatar Open, both players reached the finals and put up a great match. It ended with Świątek taking the win and the trophy home with 7-6, 6-2. This result could be a parameter of comparison, as it was the last time they met in a final match. However, Rybakina also has a strong case, having won the 2024 Boss Open semifinals against her with scores 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Świątek vs Rybakina Prediction
To no one’s surprise, Rybakina was even better on serve than Świątek on Saturday, winning 87% (28/31) of her first-serve points. The 26-year-old also saved the lone break point that she faced, underlining her dominance from the forecourt.
Świątek, meanwhile, was broken once in her rout of Keys but saved three of the four break points that she faced. The 24-year-old has been getting underneath the ball well at the King Saud Arena in Riyadh, as the medium-paced hardcourts suited her tendency to take time on her groundstrokes.
The keys to winning this match for both players will be to lock down the court with their respective forehands and constantly change shot direction, which can elicit a weak reply from either. Due to a lack of defensive skills, Świątek and Rybakina both depend more on being the aggressor.
However, the latter has a much more predictable trajectory from the baseline, which means the 2023 champion will put considerable pressure on her opponent during cross-court rallies.
Prediction: Iga Świątek to win in straight sets.