Amanda Anisimova pulled off the kind of comeback that makes you believe in second chances. Under the Riyadh lights at the 2025 WTA Finals, she looked lost for answers, down a set, down a break, and facing one of the cleanest hitters in the game. Madison Keys was in full control. But Anisimova, just 24, turned a likely loss into a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory that kept her semifinal hopes alive in the Serena Williams Group. So, how did she do it? As it turns out, Anisimova had plenty to say about the strategy that sparked her comeback.

During her courtside interview, Anisimova was still smiling, still catching her breath, when the interviewer asked her about how she turned her fortunes around. Anisimova’s reply was as real as it gets: “Yeah, I feel like every time I come out here my opponent’s like playing some crazy tennis. So, yeah, it’s been a difficult few matches and today for sure Maddie was playing so well and it was quite a battle out there and yeah, just really happy with the way I was able to turn around in the second set and kind of turn that frown upside down.” And that mindset became even clearer when she opened up about what she actually changed mid-match.

Well, we saw after her first set, when it looked like there’d be no comeback at all. Keys came out swinging, hitting deep from both wings, and breaking early to take control of the first set 6-4. She broke again in the second to lead 3-1, and for a moment, it felt like Amanda Anisimova was on her way out. But then she took a different turn. Keys had to hurry her shots as she began to take the ball earlier and move closer to the baseline. The entire match was altered by that shift. It was all about belief after that.

The audience could feel the momentum shifting as Amanda Anisimova’s self-assurance increased. She started forcing Keys to chase rather than dictate, saved crucial break points at 2-1, and broke early in the decisive set. By the time she served for the match at 5-2, she was playing with a calm intensity that felt almost inevitable. But what made her transformation so striking was her simple explanation afterward. When asked later about her mid-match adjustments, Anisimova smiled and said, “Well, I think I forget that I play indoors here. So I think just doing the opposite of what I would normally do.”

She further added, “Yeah, I 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…”It was a clever approach, trusting her instincts when it mattered most. But the same composure has carried her through a breakout 2025. Two Grand Slam finals, two WTA 1000 titles, and a top-five ranking have made this her defining year.

“I went into this tournament with a lot of confidence, but obviously everyone here is at the top level and I’m 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,” she said.  Her win completely changed the Serena Williams Group. With that result, Elena Rybakina moved through as the group winner after stunning Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 earlier in the day.

Now, Amanda Anisimova faces Swiatek next for a semifinal spot. If her comeback against Keys proved anything, it’s that she’s ready for another fight. But the night didn’t end on a perfect note. As Anisimova celebrated, Keys walked off without shaking hands, but there’s a reason behind it.

Amanda Anisimova and Madison Keys’ handshake drama had a very real reason

Madison Keys, the reigning Australian Open champion, is now out of the WTA Finals after back-to-back losses to Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova in Riyadh. But what caught everyone’s attention came right after the final point. As Anisimova walked forward for the customary handshake, Keys gestured from across the net, signaling that she was unwell and wouldn’t shake hands.

Journalist José Morgado later reported on X, “Keys asks to not handshake Anisimova. She probably got some sort of virus. Won’t be surprising to see Andreeva play the dead rubber vs. Rybakina in two days…” There’s no official WTA or ATP rule that penalizes a player for refusing a handshake, as long as they don’t behave disrespectfully.

Following Amanda Anisimova’s victory, Keys pointed towards her stomach and chest while describing her predicament. The two had a brief conversation before returning to their benches after Anisimova laughed it off amicably.

In order to be safe, Keys also avoided shaking hands with the umpire. Even though she didn’t seem particularly sick during the game, her choice was one of accountability rather than disrespect, capping a night that was equal parts tense and sportsmanlike.