Rybakina Stuns Swiatek To Progress At Wta Finals

Elena Rybakina stunned Iga Swiatek to corroborate her spot successful nan knockout stages of nan WTA Finals while Amanda Anisimova produced a comeback triumph to enactment successful contention successful Riyadh.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina was outplayed successful nan opening group against world number 2 Swiatek but wholly dominated thereafter.

Sixth seed Rybakina won 12 of nan last 13 games to large wind to a 3-6 6-1 6-0 triumph and threat a four-match losing streak against Swiatek.

American Anisimova later hit Madison Keys to nonstop Rybakina done to nan semi-finals.

"Mentally, I americium happy that I stayed focused. I sewage immoderate assurance successful nan 2nd group and everything was going my way," Rybakina said.

"Hopefully I will play for illustration that done nan full tournament."

Anisimova battled backmost from a group and a break down to hit compatriot Keys 4-6 6-3 6-2 and group up a winner-takes-all last group lucifer against Poland's Swiatek connected Wednesday.

Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Anisimova, appearing astatine her first Finals, fto retired a roar of vexation aft going 2-0 down successful nan 2nd group but recovered superbly to triumph 12 of nan adjacent 15 games.

Keys did not shingle hands pinch Anisimova astatine nan extremity of nan match, explaining to her force that she was ill.

The starring 8 women's players successful singles and doubles are competing successful Saudi Arabia, wherever £12m ($15.5m) successful prize money will beryllium won.

Rybakina was backed to situation Aryna Sabalenka and Swiatek for nan sport's apical prizes aft her Wimbledon triumph successful 2022.

But, while nan world's existent apical 2 person won 8 of nan 13 slams since then, nan 26-year-old Kazakh has been incapable to build connected that breakout success.

Swiatek had won each 4 of her erstwhile meetings pinch Rybakina successful 2025, losing only 1 group successful nan process, and leads nan WTA Tour for lucifer wins this twelvemonth (62).

But, contempt a affirmative start, an overwhelmed Swiatek had nary reply erstwhile nan momentum shifted, pinch this her first nonaccomplishment aft winning nan first group since January's Australian Open.

Rybakina, who only secured her spot astatine nan year-end championships 2 weeks ago, responded emphatically aft Swiatek edged nan opening group pinch an early break of serve.

The circuit leader for full aces successful 2025 (480), nan big-hitting Rybakina recovered hit connected service and forced Swiatek to play heavy down nan baseline, while Swiatek's ain first service points won fell from 90% successful nan first group to 53% successful nan second.

A double break of service ensured Rybakina swiftly restored parity - and nan result ne'er appeared successful uncertainty aft she rallied from 40-15 down to break Swiatek astatine nan commencement of nan last set.

A fading Swiatek was powerless to halt her opponent's advancement arsenic she amassed 42 unforced errors - 36 of which came successful sets 2 and 3 - compared to conscionable 12 winners.

Rybakina completed a connection first triumph complete Swiatek for 19 months pinch a 2nd service ace to widen her winning tally to 8 matches.

The one-sided conclusion besides made Swiatek nan first subordinate to suffer a 6-0 third-set scoreline successful 3 matches successful a play since 2013.