Anisimova rallies past Swiatek as Rybakina progresses in Riyadh

The latest chapter between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova carried echoes of their Grand Slam meetings earlier this season. Swiatek had hammered Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to lift her first Wimbledon crown in July, but the American exacted payback at the US Open quarter-finals in September.

The match opened with serve dominating — a run of 12 consecutive holds set a tight tone. The first set was decided in a tiebreak, which Swiatek captured when Anisimova’s forehand drifted long.

Anisimova then lifted her intensity in the second set, earning a decisive break in the 10th game to push the contest to a third set at the King Saud University Sports Arena. She struck again to move 3-1 ahead in the decider, putting the pressure on world number two Swiatek. The 24-year-old held her nerve to complete an impressive comeback.

“My mom kept telling me, ‘you’ve won so many three-set matches this year — you’re strong, you can do it,’” Anisimova said. “Playing Iga today was incredibly tough but I was having fun… I told myself to go for it.”

Earlier on the court, Elena Rybakina extended her strong form with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova. Madison Keys withdrew because of illness and Mirra Andreeva was declared unfit to play. Rybakina — who had already recorded wins against both Anisimova and Swiatek at the event — weathered pressure from a lively Alexandrova, broke in the ninth game to snatch the opening set, then tightened her serving and shot-making to close out the match in two sets.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to meet Coco Gauff on Thursday, both still in contention for a semi-final berth from the Steffi Graf group. Jessica Pegula, meanwhile, can improve her own chances when she faces the already-eliminated Jasmine Paolini.