Tennis WTA Finals 2025: Anisimova outlasts Swiatek to clinch semifinals berth

In a winner-takes-all showdown that lasted two hours and 36 minutes, No. 4 Amanda Anisimova took down No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek in the WTA Finals at the King Saud University Indoor Arena on Wednesday (5 November).

After dropping a tight first set 6-7 (3), Anisimova stormed back to win 6-4, 6-2 — a gutsy performance that not only sent her into the semifinals, but also handed Swiatek a rare piece of history: it’s the first time ever she’s lost back-to-back matches after winning the opening set.

Anismova, who currently has a career-high ranking, will next face Elena Rybakina, who’s cruised through her group and already locked up the top spot in the Serena Williams Group. Rybakina even kept things rolling with a tidy 6-4, 6-4 win over alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, though that match was more of a tune-up than a thriller.

On the flip side, it’s been a rough go for Madison Keys. After suffering losses to Swiatek and Anisimova, the Australian Open champion withdrew from her final match due to illness.

Now, the stage is nearly set. It’s Anisimova and Rybakina — youth, power, and confidence – who will await the results of Thursday, 6 November,

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