RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Sometimes, at this late juncture of the WTA Finals’ round-robin matches, the semifinal scenarios can be daunting. Calculators and slide rules -- maybe even a compass -- might not be enough to navigate the obscure tiebreakers that can come into play.
Winner take all.
No. 6 Elena Rybakina had already clinched the Serena Williams Group’s first semifinal berth and top seed before her 6-4, 6-4 victory over alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, leaving this match to decide the final spot.It was a banger. In what was undoubtedly the best stroke-for-stroke match of the tournament so far, Anisimova advanced with a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 win over Swiatek.
Coming into the tournament, Anisimova was asked if she had surprised herself this season. Yes, she said.
But was she surprised by this second successive victory over Swiatek?
“No, I don’t think I was surprised or shocked at any point in the match,” Anisimova said. “I knew it was going to be really tough, and I was preparing for that. Yeah, I think I just tried to enjoy it.
“I feel like I belong at this point and I’ve played a lot of tough matches this year. I know my capabilities. And I know if I can play my best tennis, I can give it my best shot.”
Anisimova has beaten all four of this year’s Grand Slam winners, including Swiatek twice.
It was the first time in Swiatek’s career she’s lost back-to-back matches after winning the opening set.
Afterward, Swiatek was understandably upset.
“Honestly,” she said, “I did everything I could today, so like no regrets. I felt like I was really in the zone, positive mindset. I fought and really didn’t give up -- it wasn’t enough, which makes me sad.
“I don’t know, maybe I can find some understanding … when you do everything and it’s still not enough, I guess it means you just need to get your tennis better.”
Rybakina and Anisimova will await the results of Thursday’s two final round-robin matches that will determine their Friday semifinal opponents from the Stefanie Graf Group.
The first 23 games, constantly fraught with tension, did not feature a single break of serve. The match ran 2 hours and 36 minutes. Anisimova won 107 points, to Swiatek’s 103.
Anisimova is the first player to hit more than 40 winners in a WTA Finals' match since Caroline Garcia versus Daria Kasatkina in 2022 (42).
Anisimova, currently ranked a career-high No. 4, came in with some impressive credentials. She was the only player to qualify here from outside the Top 20 of the PIF WTA Rankings and the only one to beat each of the current Top 3 players -- Aryna Sabalenka, Swiatek and Coco Gauff-- this season. This is her first WTA Finals appearance.
For 59 minutes on Wednesday, it was a dead heat. Twelve straight service holds -- a rarity these days -- delivered them to a first-set tiebreak. To get there, Swiatek needed to save four break points, two of them serving at 5-all. Anisimova didn’t face even one.
It was 1-all when Swiatek asserted herself, hitting three straight winners to take a 4-1 lead that Anisimova never challenged. After playing so cleanly, a few cracks began to emerge in her game. When her last forehand soared long, an Anisimova anguished, extended groan climbed at least an octave.
And so it went, with service hold after hold. Finally, with Anisimova leading 5-4, Swiatek was broken and the match was level at a set apiece.
Swiatek saved two break points in each of her first two service games in the ultimate frame -- but not a third. A double fault gave Anisimova a 3-1 lead. Given the tightness of the match, it felt like a lot more.
This was an encouraging outing from Anisimova, who edged ahead in the head-to-head 2-1. In a season of career firsts, she’s into her first semifinal at the year-end championship.
Iga went from playing one of her worst matches at the WTA Finals vs Rybakina 2 days ago to one of her absolute best today, but sadly still wasn't enough. Came up just a bit short on the big points today.
Had her chances in the 2nd those wasted break points proved decisive to the match.
This marks the first time Iga has lost back to back matches in a single tournament in 4 years (mind boggling!).
And the first time in her career she has lost back to back matches from a set up.
That's how good her best has been.
I know a lot of people are disappointed, and there's talk as there always is of changing something in the team, when the reality is we don't know the intricacies of it and clearly it works for Iga.
In this sport every player has one or 2 bad seasons after years of dominance. Some of the best players in the world have had it happen to them. It happened to Roger, to Rafa and to Novak even Serena.
And now it's happened to Iga.
But amazingly despite not being able to reach the dizzying heights of previous years she still give her fans fantastic triumphs on 2 of her worst surfaces grass and the fast hard courts of Cincinnati.
No one expected that (least of all Iga herself) and yet she did so in spectacular fashion.
So much so I think maybe Anisimova really took that Wimbledon double bagel very personally.
The season is not quite over for Iga since she'll be taking part in 2 BJK Cup ties in Poland, but I'm already hoping and dreaming about big things for Iga in 2026.
She achieved one of the biggest dreams for fans of Polish tennis, being the first ever Pole to win the prestigious Wimbledon Championship. Something I always thought she would achieve last (if ever).
Next year she'll have a chance for a Career Slam at the Aussie Open, she has been so close made the semis for 3 years now and was a point away from the final last year.
Having really figured out the quick courts this year I have big hopes for it in January.
When it comes to the WTA Finals this year Iga got dealt a bit of a bad hand with all the big flat hitters (players that give her the most trouble) ending up in her group.
That bad loss to Rybakina was a bit of a nail in the coffin.
Seeing Iga looking quite down in her interviews despite trying to sound positive hurts to watch a bit, wish the media would give players more time to process before asking them to order their thoughts after a heartbreak.
Hold your head up Iga, you ended the season on a high and showed a fantastic level, even played your best tiebreak of the year. In fact this match was the best showcased at the WTA Finals in this year thus far.
Lot's to be proud of.
Not the least of which making it through another grueling season injury free, when so many players didn't even finish the season due to mental of physical exhaustion.
Your superior conditioning will always be a big plus and something to be extremely proud of.
See you in Gorzow Iga!
