Madison Keys predicts who will win the WTA Finals ahead of Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff

Madison Keys will not be part of the WTA Finals this year, with Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff the two American players who have qualified.

Keys returned to the WTA Finals last year for just the second time in her career, and first since 2016, after winning her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

However, it has not been such a strong season for Keys in 2026, who is now ranked outside the top 20 and was some way off qualifying for the WTA Finals this year.

Instead, Keys will be watching on from the sidelines, and she has now predicted who she thinks is going to take the title in Indian Wells.

Madison Keys backs Elena Rybakina to win the WTA Finals again this year

Although she is not competing at the WTA Finals this year, Keys will still be in Indian Wells in a new role for Sky Sports, who she has predicted this year’s champion for.

Instead of backing either of her compatriots Pegula or Gauff, Keys has instead opted for world number one and defending champion Elena Rybakina, as she cited her previous success at the Indian Wells tournament.

“Elena Rybakina,” predicted Keys. “She’s clearly been the best player this year, having won two Grand Slam titles and secured the year-end world No 1 ranking. She’s also enjoyed previous success in the desert, having won the title in 2023.”

Keys is not alone with this prediction, as record eight-time WTA Finals champion Martina Navratilova also opted to go with Rybakina to win the title in Indian Wells.

Navratilova said, “Elena Rybakina because of her ranking and how well she’s played over the year.”

Keys also did not name her fellow Americans when asked to name her dark horse, as she instead opted for Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva.

“Mirra Andreeva. She’s a great player, and the conditions in the desert really complement her strengths,” added Keys. “I think that’s a big reason why she’s enjoyed so much success there and has been able to produce some of her best tennis, including her title-winning run in 2025.”

Navratilova did not have the same answer as Keys for this question, as she instead picked out Pegula, “Jessica Pegula hasn’t won a Grand Slam this year, so maybe this is the big one for her this year.”

Who is the last player to defend the WTA Finals singles title?

While Rybakina has been the best player on the WTA Tour this year, she will have to do something that has not been done in 12 years at the WTA Finals if she is to fulfil Keys and Navratilova’s predictions.

Serena Williams won her fifth and third consecutive WTA Finals title in 2014, and since then no player has defended their title at the tournament, with only first-time champions since then.

Rybakina is one of those first-time champions, and will be joined by Gauff and Elina Svitolina as the only former winners at the WTA Finals this year.

Joining Rybakina, Gauff and Svitolina at the WTA Finals this year in Indian Wells are Aryna Sabalenka, Andreeva, Pegula, Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova.

Rybakina will get her WTA Finals title defence underway on Sunday, November 8 against Wimbledon champion Noskova, who she has won all three of her previous matches against.