Madison Keys has officially withdrawn from the WTA Finals due to illness, following her exit from the tournament before her scheduled round-robin match against Elena Rybakina. Rybakina had already secured her place in the semi-finals as the winner of her group and will now face second alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova in a match that holds no competitive stakes.
Keys indicated her health concerns during her recent match against fellow American Amanda Anisimova, signaling that she preferred to avoid contact to prevent spreading any illness. After losing to Anisimova, Keys gestured to explain her condition by pointing to her chest and stomach, suggesting she was feeling unwell. Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Anisimova appeared to take the gesture lightly, and both players engaged in a brief conversation at the net before proceeding without shaking hands—a choice also made by Keys with the umpire.
This year’s WTA Finals have shown instances of health issues among players, as Jasmine Paolini is reportedly facing similar struggles while still competing in the doubles alongside Sara Errani. Keys, the recent Australian Open champion, had aimed to make a comeback at the finals after a two-month hiatus post-US Open. However, her journey was cut short following losses to Iga Swiatek and Anisimova in her initial matches.
In an earlier match on the same day, Rybakina executed a remarkable comeback, taking 12 of the final 13 games against Swiatek to triumph with a score of 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. The rivalry continued to play out as Swiatek had dominated Anisimova in the Wimbledon final just months prior, with Anisimova exacting revenge in the US Open quarter-finals shortly after.
As the tournament progresses, the remaining competitors are eager to advance, with anticipation building for the outcome of the critical match between Swiatek and Anisimova, where the winner will secure their place alongside Rybakina in the semi-finals.