Riyadh – Amanda Anisimova pulled off a stunning comeback at the WTA Finals, beating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to book her spot in the semifinals. The match, played Wednesday in sunny Riyadh, saw the fourth‑seeded American rally from a set down to finish 6‑7(3), 6‑4, 6‑2.
The clash was a must‑win for both players. With Elena Rybakina already locked in a semifinal place after topping the Serena Williams group, Anisimova and Swiatek, each holding one win and one loss, faced off for the last semifinal berth. They had battled earlier in the year: Swiatek had blanketed Anisimova in a straight‑sets win at Wimbledon, while the U.S. Open quarter‑finals saw the American exact revenge.
The first set was a tight stand‑off. Both served every point and Anisimova earned four break chances that Swiatek saved. Swiatek edged the tiebreak 7‑6(3) to take the set, with the first 12 games kept on serve.
In the second set, Anisimova stayed patient, saving three break points in the third game to hold. She kept her nerve when the score reached 5‑4, breaking Swiatek’s serve for the first time in the match. Anisimova closed out the set 6‑4, leveling the match and shifting momentum.
The final set was Anisimova’s showcase. She applied constant pressure, and when Swiatek double‑faulted on a break point in the fifth game, Anisimova surged ahead. She broke again while leading 5‑2 and then served out the match 6‑2 to complete a dramatic comeback.
“I knew the first set would be tough,” Anisimova said after the win. “I tried to play better shots, use my serve more, and just keep pushing. I felt I had to raise my level to win.”
In the other group match, Elena Rybakina continued her strong form, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia 6‑4, 6‑4. Rybakina’s win marked her third straight group‑stage victory. Madison Keys, originally slated to face Rybakina, withdrew due to illness, and Alexandrova entered as an alternate.
The semifinals now look set: Rybakina, Anisimova, Swiatek, and the remaining top seed will vie for the WTA Finals title.
Source: ianslive
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