Amanda Anisimova defeated Iga Swiatek 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-2 in a winner-take-all match at the WTA Finals on Wednesday, moving her in the semi-finals alongside Elena Rybakina.
In doing so, 24-year-old Anisimova will continue to fight for her first crown in her season-ending debut in the championship.
With Swiatek defeating Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in July to win her first Wimbledon title, the stage is set for their long-awaited matchup before Swiatek gets her revenge in the US Open quarterfinals in September.
World No. 2 Swiatek was eliminated in the group stage of the WTA Finals.
Poland’s Swiatek, who got off to a strong start in their recent encounter and held serve 12 times in a row, raised her level and took control of the first set in the tiebreak, clinching the set when Anisimova hit a long forehand.
The battle of attrition continued in the second set, but Anisimova increased her forehand strength and earned the first break of the match in the 10th game, scoring the deciding goal at King Saud University Sports Arena.
Filled with confidence, Anisimova made another break to go up 3-1 in the third set, shifting the pressure onto world No. 2 Swiatek, and the resilient 24-year-old held firm from there to come from behind to win.
This is the second time Anisimova has defeated a Pole in a major matchup, having lost to Swiatek 6-0, 6-0 in the 2025 Wimbledon final.
Rybakina defeated reserve Alexandrova to advance to the semi-finals.
With Madison Keys absent due to illness and Mila Andreeva unfit to play, Rybakina continued her dominant run with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over second substitute Ekaterina Alexandrova.
“It was tough, especially in the second set I stood up and lost concentration a little bit,” Rybakina said.
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Highlights of WTA Finals Elena Rybakina vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova
“Ekaterina is always a tough opponent and she has big serves. It was a little difficult for me to return at first, so I’m very happy that I was able to win in two sets in the end.”
Rybakina entered the match after wins over Anisimova and Swiatek, but the former Wimbledon champion was under pressure against the fresh-faced Alexandrova, breaking her in the ninth game and holding on to take the first set.
After fending off three break points in the first set, the Kazakhstani player stepped up with a huge serve and strong strikes early in the second set to take a 3-1 lead and applied a squeeze to move closer to another victory for the Serena Williams group.
A strong return of serve led to another break for Rybakina, who was one game away, and although the 26-year-old struggled with her own shots in the final stages of the match, she ultimately won the match.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will face Coco Gauff on Thursday, with both players battling for a place in the semi-finals from Steffi Graf’s group, while Jessica Pegula could improve her chances by facing eliminated Jasmine Paolini.
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