In a dramatic turn of events at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Elena Rybakina delivered a stunning performance to defeat world number two Iga Swiatek and secure her place in the semi-finals. The Kazakh tennis star, who had previously struggled against Swiatek, turned the match around after losing the first set, winning 12 of the final 13 games to claim a 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory. This marked Rybakina’s first win over Swiatek in 19 months, ending a four-match losing streak against the Polish player. Rybakina attributed her success to mental resilience and a newfound confidence, stating, ‘I stayed focused, and everything started going my way.’ Meanwhile, Amanda Anisimova kept her tournament hopes alive with a comeback win against Madison Keys, setting up a decisive group match against Swiatek. The WTA Finals, featuring the top eight women’s singles and doubles players, offers a staggering £12 million ($15.5 million) in prize money. Rybakina, known for her powerful serve and aggressive play, has been tipped to challenge the sport’s elite since her Wimbledon triumph in 2022. However, she has faced challenges in maintaining consistency, while Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka have dominated the Grand Slam scene. Swiatek, who leads the WTA Tour in match wins this year, struggled to maintain her early momentum, committing 42 unforced errors in the latter stages of the match. In doubles, Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko advanced to the knockout stage, while Elise Mertens and Veronika Kudermetova secured a hard-fought victory. The tournament continues to deliver high-stakes drama as players vie for the prestigious year-end title.