Madison Keys has withdrawn from her final group-stage match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh due to illness. The American, who was scheduled to face Elena Rybakina on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. BST, was deemed unfit to compete. As a result, second alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova will step in to make her WTA Finals debut.
It’s a disappointing end to what has been a challenging season for Keys. Since winning her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, she has struggled to regain top form. Her early exit at the US Open, where she lost in the opening round, summed up a difficult stretch. Hoping to reset for the prestigious year-end event in Riyadh, Keys skipped several tournaments to rest and recover — but her campaign in Saudi Arabia never quite found momentum.
A Difficult Return to the Court
Keys’ opening match against Iga Swiatek was one-sided. The world No. 1 dominated from start to finish, dropping just three games in a 6–1, 6–2 rout. The American’s final hopes rested on her next match against compatriot Amanda Anisimova, but even after a promising start, Keys couldn’t close it out.
She took the first set with a late break and led 3–1 in the second before Anisimova flipped the script — winning five straight games to level the match, and then cruising through the decider 6–2. The result officially ended Keys’ WTA Finals run.
Her final scheduled match against Rybakina was meant to offer a chance at redemption, but instead, Keys will now watch from the sidelines.
Alexandrova’s Unexpected Opportunity
For Ekaterina Alexandrova, this withdrawal marks an unexpected opening — and a career milestone. Ranked 10th in the Race to Riyadh, she narrowly missed direct qualification but now steps in as the second alternate.
Her compatriot Mirra Andreeva, next in line, was unavailable after playing doubles alongside Diana Shnaider, leaving Alexandrova next on the list.
The Russian enters familiar territory: she faced Rybakina just weeks ago in the Ningbo Open final, where the Kazakh fought back from a set down to claim the title. That victory played a major role in Rybakina’s qualification for the Finals — and Tuesday’s matchup offers Alexandrova a shot at payback, even if under unexpected circumstances.
What It Means for Rybakina
Already leading her group after two wins, Rybakina has secured her semifinal spot but will look to keep her perfect record intact. For Alexandrova, meanwhile, it’s a chance to showcase her form on one of tennis’s biggest stages — and to turn an unexpected call-up into an opportunity worth remembering.