Rybakina Stuns Swiatek to Reach WTA Finals Semis in Riyadh

Elena Rybakina stormed into the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh with a stunning comeback victory over world number two Iga Swiatek, winning 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 on Monday. The Kazakh star displayed composure and power to claim her first win over Swiatek in their last five meetings.

Swiatek looked in complete control early on, taking the first three games and sealing the opening set 6-3 as Rybakina struggled with her backhand returns. But the momentum shifted dramatically in the second set as the Wimbledon champion found her rhythm, capitalising on Swiatek’s mounting errors.

The Polish player, a six-time Grand Slam champion, made a staggering 36 unforced errors in the final two sets, compared to Rybakina’s 17. The sixth seed broke early in the second set with a forehand winner, quickly going up 3-0 before closing the set 6-1 with an ace.

Rybakina maintained her dominance in the decider, delivering a flawless performance while Swiatek’s frustration grew. The 25-year-old Kazakh handed the world number two a rare 6-0 ‘bagel’ set, sealing victory after just under two hours of play.

“It was difficult to be down, but in the second set I pushed myself. My serve improved, and I’m really happy with how I played each point,” said Rybakina after the match.

The win marked Rybakina’s second consecutive group-stage victory, following her triumph over Amanda Anisimova on Saturday, ensuring her place in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova staged her own comeback earlier in the day, defeating fellow American Madison Keys 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Keys took the opening set 6-4 with powerful serves, but her inconsistency proved costly. The Australian Open champion produced 12 double faults — four times more than Anisimova — allowing the 24-year-old to take control of the match.

Anisimova, who was runner-up at both Wimbledon and the US Open this year, turned the match around with her aggressive baseline play and clever cross-court shots. She dominated the final set in just 34 minutes to claim her first win at the Finals.

“It was quite a battle out there. I’m really happy with how I managed to turn it around in the second set,” said Anisimova, smiling after her victory.

Rybakina will next face Madison Keys in her final round-robin match, while Swiatek will meet Anisimova as she fights to stay in contention.

In the other group, top seed Aryna Sabalenka — who began her campaign with a win over Jasmine Paolini — is set to play Jessica Pegula on Tuesday. Pegula will be looking to extend her momentum after beating Coco Gauff in her opening match.