Rybakina defeats Swiatek to reach semi-finals of WTA year-end finals for the first time
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Elena Rybakina advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Year-End Finals for the first time on Monday, defeating Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
The result, coupled with Amanda Anisimova’s victory over Madison Keys in her first professional match for the United States, means Swiatek and Anisimova will battle it out for a spot in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Swiatek defeated Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 in the Wimbledon final, but Anisimova eliminated Swiatek 6-4, 6-3 in the U.S. Open quarterfinals.
Australian Open champion Keys withdrew from the competition with a record of 0 wins and 2 losses.
Sixth-ranked Rybakina made it through the round-robin stage for the first time in her third WTA year-end finals. She has continued her good form in Asia, winning eight matches in a row and 10 of her last 11 matches.
But Rybakina was starting to be shaken after losing her previous four games against second-ranked Swiatek, who took the first set with just one break of serve.
Rybakina then sealed the win, serving better, and Swiatek cleared. As her serve continued to decline, the Pole made 6 unforced errors in the first set, but made 36 unforced errors in the last two sets.
No. 4 Anisimova broke the key of No. 7 six times and finally won 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Keys had a shaky win in both the first set and an early advantage in the second, but Anisimova won the final four games of the second set and the final six games of the match.
