Anisimova turns tide on Swiatek in Riyadh

In the humming intensity of Riyadh's arena, Amanda Anisimova carved out a semifinal spot at the WTA Finals with a determined 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win over second-ranked Iga Swiatek. The 24-year-old American, now No. 4 in the world, extended her recent mastery over the Pole, following a quarterfinal upset at the US Open and erasing the sting of that 6-0, 6-0 Wimbledon final defeat. On these swift indoor hardcourts, Anisimova's flat groundstrokes and probing returns disrupted Swiatek's rhythm, turning psychological momentum into tangible points under the weight of round-robin pressure.

Shadows of Wimbledon fade away

The echo of Centre Court's humiliation had shadowed Anisimova through the summer, but here in Riyadh, she rebuilt with fierce one–two combinations that mixed crosscourt drives with inside-out forehands. Swiatek, carrying the burden of her world No. 2 status, forced a tight first-set tiebreak through her topspin defense, yet Anisimova's deep serves held firm, saving early break points with quick footwork and low slices that skimmed the baseline. As the match stretched, the American's focus sharpened, her backhand down-the-line winners piercing Swiatek's flanks and signaling a mind unburdened by old scars.

This tactical evolution suited the surface's pace, where Anisimova's power overwhelmed Swiatek's clay-honed consistency, leading to unforced errors from the Pole in prolonged rallies. The crowd's murmurs built with each exchanged baseline bomb, amplifying the emotional stakes as Anisimova channeled vulnerability into aggression, her game maturing under the season's relentless glare.

Second-set surge forces decider

Anisimova claimed the match's lone break in the second set, snatching it with a crosscourt forehand that left Swiatek scrambling, and rode that momentum into a decisive third frame. Facing just four break points overall, she repelled them all with varied serves—flat out wide and kick to the body—denying her opponent any foothold on return. The adjustment wore Swiatek down, her movement faltering on the quick court as Anisimova alternated pace, dipping underspin to draw errors and flattening shots for winners.

By the final set, the American's consistency prevailed in a 6-2 rout, her poise under pressure a far cry from Wimbledon's collapse, as the arena's energy pulsed with her growing command.

Semifinals take shape Thursday

Elsewhere, Elena Rybakina, already semifinal-qualified, closed her group with a solid 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Ekaterina Alexandrova, her booming serves and down-the-line backhands controlling the tempo on this hardcourt stage. Anisimova and Rybakina now eye their bracket foes after Thursday's matches, where top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka meets defending champion Coco Gauff in a clash of power and athleticism, while Jessica Pegula battles eliminated Jasmine Paolini. These outcomes will test Anisimova's adaptability further, her hardcourt edge positioning her for deeper runs in this elite field, where every pivot could redefine the year.