In a thrilling display of tennis prowess, the WTA Finals in Riyadh delivered a captivating showdown between Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova.American tennis fans, accustomed to intense rivalries and dramatic comebacks, would have been on the edge of their seats watching this hard-fought match.
Sabalenka, the world No. 1 and a dominant force throughout the group stage,faced a formidable challenge from Anisimova. The American, who had already made waves by emerging from the “Serena Williams group” with a decisive victory over Iga Swiatek, proved to be a resilient opponent.
The early exchanges were a testament to the high level of play. For nearly forty minutes, the players traded powerful groundstrokes, with onyl five games played. Sabalenka managed to secure the first break of serve, but Anisimova, showing nerves of steel, fought back. Despite a tense moment at 5-3, where she was broken again, Anisimova ultimately conceded the first set after an hour of intense rallies, marked by an unforced error.
However,the momentum dramatically shifted at the start of the second set. The seemingly unstoppable world No. 1 began to falter, making uncharacteristic errors. In contrast,Anisimova found her rhythm,unleashing a barrage of precise backhands and forehands that found unfeasible angles,even challenging the remarkable court coverage of Sabalenka.
Anisimova, who had squandered five break point opportunities in the first set, seized her chance early in the second. Converting her first break point, she took a crucial lead. She continued to press her advantage, breaking Sabalenka’s serve once more to establish a commanding 4-0 lead. despite a spirited comeback attempt from Sabalenka, Anisimova held firm, ultimately clinching the set 6-3.
the deciding set was a nail-biting affair. The turning point arrived in a seventh game of remarkable intensity. Sabalenka, drawing on her experience, managed to break serve with a stunning backhand pass down the line. This proved to be the decisive moment. The world No. 4, who had previously defeated Anisimova in the US Open final in September, was unable to recover. This loss marked her fifth defeat in eleven encounters against the Belarusian-born Anisimova, concluding a grueling 2-hour and 21-minute battle.
Rybakina’s Ace Power Fuels Victory
Earlier in the day, Elena Rybakina showcased her own brand of dominance in a compelling match against Jessica Pegula. Rybakina, ranked 6th in the world, has been enjoying a career-best run at the WTA Finals, her third consecutive appearance. Having secured all three of her group matches, she has positioned herself as a serious contender.
Having qualified as the last of the eight players for Riyadh, Rybakina is now set to face Sabalenka on Saturday.A victory would mark her third title of 2025,adding to her earlier triumphs at the WTA 500 events in Strasbourg (clay) and Ningbo (hard court).
The 2022 Wimbledon champion, however, had to dig deep to secure her third career victory over Pegula in six meetings. Her formidable serve, which produced an impressive 15 aces, was a key weapon. “Yes, it’s my best weapon and I think it worked really well,” rybakina commented, as reported by the WTA. “At times when I needed it most,my serve was there,although she played really well and pushed me in tough situations.”
After dropping the first set 6-4,Rybakina found herself serving to stay in the set. Pegula mounted a strong challenge, breaking Rybakina’s serve and creating opportunities to level the score at five games all. Though, the Kazakhstani player weathered the storm, fended off the threats, and then broke Pegula’s serve to clinch the second set 6-4, forcing a decider.
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