Elena Rybakina came from a set down to thrash Iga Swiatek and move to the brink of qualification at the WTA Finals.
Wimbledon champion Swiatek had won all four of her matches against Rybakina this season and looked in control of the contest after converting the opening break to win the first set. But Rybakina responded well, opening up her big-hitting game, and won 12 of the final 13 games to seal a remarkable 3-6 6-1 6-0 win against the World No 2.
Rybakina will qualify for the semi-finals for the first time if Amanda Anisimova beats Madison Keys in the second singles match of the day in the Serena Williams Group. Keys was rusty in her opening defeat to Swiatek, playing in her first match since the US Open, while Anisimova was beaten by Rybakina in less than an hour. Keys would be out if Anisimova wins the all-American contest.
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WTA Finals Live: Latest scores and updates
- WTA Finals continues with day three in Riyadh, live on Sky Sports
- Elena Rybakina thrashes Iga Swiatek in final two sets to win 3-6 6-1 6-0
- Followed by Anisimova v Keys as both Americans face elimination
- Serena Williams Group permutations ahead of second round of matches
Elena Rybakina stuns Iga Swiatek at WTA Finals
15:56
,
Jamie Braidwood
An astonishing turnaround from Rybakina. Swiatek loses from a set up for the first time since her Australian Open semi-final defeat to Iga Swiatek in January, and completely unravelled after Rybakina hit her stride.
Rybakina makes it two wins out two in Riyadh - and seven wins out of her last seven matches. She’s certainly in-form and has to be a contender if she plays like this. Rybakina is now in pole position to advance to the semi-finals and will be through if Anisimova beats Keys next.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Elena Rybakina 3-6 6-1 6-0 Iga Swiatek
15:53
,
Jamie Braidwood
A second serve ace from Rybakina. What a scoreline that is. Swiatek is stunned.
Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 0-5 Elena Rybakina*
15:53
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek is offering no resistance here. Swiatek throws a backhand out of play, against a soft second serve, and Rybakina will have three match points.
Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 0-5 Elena Rybakina*
15:50
,
Jamie Braidwood
Eight in a row for Rybakina, with more errors from Swiatek. She has completely unravelled and Rybakina is just a game away from the win.
*Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 0-4 Elena Rybakina
15:48
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rybakina produces two clean winners with effortlessly powerful strikes off her forehand wing to take her seventh game in a row. Swiatek continues to look flustered and unable to find the same adjustments that were working in the first set.
BREAK! Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 0-3 Elena Rybakina*
15:43
,
Jamie Braidwood
It’s six games in a a row for Rybakina. Another forehand error from Swiatek brings up another break point, and Rybakina’s deep return to the baseline brings another error from the Pole. That’s nine out of the last 10 games.
*Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 0-2 Elena Rybakina
15:37
,
Jamie Braidwood
It’s all starting to spiral out of control for Swiatek, as Rybakina continues her run of points.
It almost feels as if Swiatek is doubling down and she makes a forehand winner crosscourt.
But a return goes wide and Rybakina is finding her best level of serving of the match. An ace wraps up the hold.
BREAK! Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 0-1 Elena Rybakina*
15:33
,
Jamie Braidwood
Some more positive body language from Rybakina as Swiatek nets against the second-serve.
But from 40-15 up, Rybakina lands a big forehand strike for a winner and Swiatek then pushes the forehand long.
Swiatek roars again as she moves towards the net and Rybakina goes long - but Rybakina’s return forces the backhand error.
And Rybakina takes advantage on break point - a solid return gets her into the rally before a crushing forehand crosscourt strike forces the miss from Swiatek!
Just what Rybakina wanted and what Swiatek could not afford.
SECOND SET! *Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-6 Elena Rybakina
15:24
,
Jamie Braidwood
What a turnaround. Swiatek looked resigned to losing the second set and Rybakina can quite comfortably sweep up - even making a double fault on the first set point.
She was 40-0 up, but Swiatek goes wide on the backhand and Rybakina takes the set.
Can Swiatek stop the alarming number of errors that are now flowing? She made 19 in the second set, and went from winning 90 per cent of her first-serve points to just 50 per cent.
BREAK! Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-5 Elena Rybakina*
15:20
,
Jamie Braidwood
A further example of Rybakina able to hit more consistently in the rallies and start to take over with her power as she catches the back of the baseline and Swiatek hits into the net.
Rybakina now has the chance for the double-break and takes it! Swiatek cannot stop the errors and her backhand goes long.
*Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-4 Elena Rybakina
15:14
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rybakina makes a double-fault to bring up 30-30 and Swiatek hangs her head as she is unable to do enough on the next return and force a break point.
Rybakina finds a lovely one-two to take the head, landing the wide serve and putting the forehand winner into the open court.
Iga Swiatek 6-3 1-3 Elena Rybakina*
15:11
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek looks to get herself going again as she lands the forehand winner crosscourt. There is clearly some frustration at losing her serve so early in the second set.
*Iga Swiatek 6-3 0-3 Elena Rybakina
15:06
,
Jamie Braidwood
Well there’s been quite a change in mood as Rybakina holds to love and suddenly looks pretty comfortable in this set.
BREAK! Iga Swiatek 6-3 0-2 Elena Rybakina*
15:04
,
Jamie Braidwood
A bit of a tricky game for Swiatek gets a whole lot tougher as a double fault brings up 30-40 and break point.
Rybakina adjusts to the return and gets it back in play, and Swiatek misses on the forehand into the net.
Rybakina breaks, in a mirror image of the opening couple of games from the first set.
*Iga Swiatek 6-3 0-1 Elena Rybakina
14:59
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rybakina immediately faces some pressure as she pulls her crosscourt backhand out of play, with Swiatek scrambling.
Rybakina, though, can put away the bounce smash for a clean winner, a tricky shot, and Swiatek then goes long on the forehand.
From 15-30 down, she holds.
FIRST SET! Iga Swiatek 6-3 Elena Rybakina*
14:52
,
Jamie Braidwood
So Swiatek backs up the early break with a brilliant serving performance - 90 per cent of her first-serve points won. Rybakina had 10 winners to Swiatek’s five but Swiatek was able to dictate in her service games.
FIRST SET! Iga Swiatek 6-3 Elena Rybakina*
14:51
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek and Rybakina trade winners on the first couple of points before Swiatek hustles on the baseline and Rybakina nets.
Swiatek takes her time on the second serve and Rybakina goes big on the return, but long! That can’t have been by much.
Two set points for Swiatek. She misses a drive volley on the first, but the serve that has stood up so well today delivers.
She finds the spinny, kicking serve down the middle and Rybakina can’t return on the stretch.
*Iga Swiatek 5-3 Elena Rybakina
14:48
,
Jamie Braidwood
Solid from Rybakina, moving Swiatek out of position and steering the backhand winner, then followed by the ace down the middle to hold.
Now can Swiatek serve it out? She’s won all 15 of her points when landing the first serve in play.
Iga Swiatek 5-2 Elena Rybakina*
14:44
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek does face some more pressure this time as Rybakina gets her big strike in play to get to 15-30.
But Rybakina goes just long on the forehand and Swiatek closes the door as she finds the serve down the middle.
*Iga Swiatek 4-2 Elena Rybakina
14:39
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek is having to do all the running but Rybakina finds a way through with a forehand winner placed behind Swiatek. Better from Rybakina, who pumps her fist, but must now ask Swiatek the question on the return.
Iga Swiatek 4-1 Elena Rybakina*
14:35
,
Jamie Braidwood
A second consecutive love-hold from Swiatek. Rybakina is really struggling to do anything on the returns, with Swiatek dictating.
*Iga Swiatek 3-1 Elena Rybakina
14:32
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek catches out Rybakina with a dipping backhand into her feet as she approached the net, bringing up two break points.
Rybakina finds a first serve and lets the forehand take over, flashing winners to either side to save.
Rybakina steadies again to find more accuracy on her serve from deuce and that’s a tidy hold from 15-40 down.
Iga Swiatek 3-0 Elena Rybakina*
14:27
,
Jamie Braidwood
What a great start this has been for Swiatek. She lands an ace to hold to love, having mixed up her serve well in that game.
Break! *Iga Swiatek 2-0 Elena Rybakina
14:24
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek will look to be aggressive when Rybakina leaves anything short and is alert on the returns from the off.
Swiatek blasts a forehand winner and then leaps into the return, making the block, as Rybakina then goes long.
15-40. Swiatek jumps on the return and Rybakina nets - she gets the break after saving break point in the previous game.
Iga Swiatek 1-0 Elena Rybakina*
14:20
,
Jamie Braidwood
Swiatek holds. Rybakina netted on the return and then pushed her forehand wide. An encouraging sign for Swiatek that her serve delivered in saving the first break point.
*Iga Swiatek 0-0 Elena Rybakina
14:19
,
Jamie Braidwood
Rybakina blasts a forehand through the court and past Swiatek with an easy swing, then lands another beautiful backhand winner crosscourt that sails out of Swiatek’s reach.
It brings an early break point, but Swiatek saves with an excellent one-two, driving the forehand winner off the serve.
Iga Swiatek v Elena Rybakina
14:09
,
Jamie Braidwood
Here we go. Elena Rybakina leads Iga Swiatek out onto court, where the coin toss will be performed by former WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia.
Swiatek wins the toss and choses to serve.
Will it be a fifth straight win over Rybakina for the Wimbledon champion, or will Rybakina book her place in the semi-finals for the first time?
WTA Finals: Group permutations
14:06
,
Jamie Braidwood
If Swiatek and Keys win: Swiatek advances as group winner, Anisimova eliminated
If Rybakina and Anisimova win: Rybakina advances as group winner, Keys eliminated
If Swiatek wins in straight sets and Anisimova wins in three sets: Swiatek advances in top-two, Keys remains alive
If Rybakina wins in straight sets and Keys wins in three sets: Rybakina advances in top-two, Anisimova remains alive
Up next: Iga Swiatek v Elena Rybakina
14:05
,
Jamie Braidwood
Iga Swiatek has 62 wins so far in 2025, which is the most on the WTA Tour ahead of Aryna Sabalenka. The 2023 champion is looking to finish her season strong after a golden summer that included her surprise Wimbledon title.
Elena Rybakina has the third-most wins on the WTA Tour this season, with 52, and is coming into form and fitness at just the right time ahead of the WTA Finals. She has yet to advance out of the round-robin, but has the game - as evidenced by her thrashing of Amanda Anisimova on Saturday.
Hsieh and Ostapenko beat Paolini and Errani
13:30
,
Jamie Braidwood
Two devastating backhands in a row from Jelena Ostapenko seals a 6-3 6-4 win for the Latvian and Hsieh Su-Wei, taking apart the top seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani.
That makes it two wins from two for Ostapenko and Hsieh, though they are not through to the semi-finals just yet. But if Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens defeat Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs, they will be.
Paolini and Errani play Kudermetova and Mertens in their third match on Wednesday.
WTA Finals: Amanda Anisimova v Madison Keys
13:20
,
Jamie Braidwood
Remarkably, for two Americans, this will be their first meeting, after Anisimova qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time this season by reaching grand slam finals at Wimbledon and the USA Open and winning two WTA 1000 titles in Doha and Beijing.
Keys became the oldest first-time Australian Open champion when she lifted her first grand slam title in January, but the American is making her first appearance at an event since her first-round US Open exit in August.
WTA Finals: Iga Swiatek v Elena Rybakina
13:00
,
Jamie Braidwood
Iga Swiatek started the year with a losing record against Elena Rybakina, but has beaten her four times this year to now lead the head-to-head 6-4.
Rybakina previously scored big wins over Swiatek at the Australian Open, Indian Wells and Rome in 2023, beating her four times when she was ranked as No 1.
However Swiatek has been in control this season, with a win over her at the French Open and on her way to winning the Cincinnati title.
Rybakina has found some form though and is looking to advance past the round-robin stage for the first time. Swiatek won all five matches when she last lifted the title in 2023.
Hsieh and Ostapenko lead Paolini and Errani
12:50
,
Jamie Braidwood
Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko have taken the opening set 6-3 against the top seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, with Paolini looking a little out of sorts. The Italian duo could have advanced with a straight-sets win but must now come from behind.
Coco Gauff struggles in opening defeat to Jessica Pegula
12:40
,
Jamie Braidwood
Defending champion Coco Gauff made 17 double faults and committed 75 unforced errors across her defeat to Jessica Pegula.
Pegula beat the 21-year-old 6-3 6-7(4) 6-2 and it was to Gauff’s credit that she made the match close despite struggling with her serve and forehand.
"Coco's a great champion, great competitor, good friend, so it's always tough playing her... I just tried my best today to execute where I could," Pegula said.
Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani in doubles action
12:20
,
Jamie Braidwood
The top seeds Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani can book their place in the semi-finals with a straight-sets victory over Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko, having opened their tournament with a 6-3 6-3 win over Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs.
Su-Wei and Ostapenko were also victorious in their opening match, requiring a match tiebreak, so can only advance with a win if Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens defeat Muhammad and Schuurs in the later match.
Aryna Sabalenka sweeps aside Jasmine Paolini
12:00
,
Jamie Braidwood
Aryna Sabalenka made it five wins in a row over Jasmine Paolini as the top seed made an impressive start to her WTA Finals campaign with a 6-3 6-1 victory on Sunday.
"Doesn't matter the score, I always know I have to stay focused. If you give her an opportunity she will take control of the game," Sabalenka said after the 500th match of her career, and 60th win of her season.
"I was focused, I was calm and it feels like everything was in control."
Paolini is also playing in the doubles event in Riyadh, which means the Italian must play a match every day throughout the round-robin phase.
Elena Rybakina continues winning streak to beat Amanda Anisimova
11:40
,
Jamie Braidwood
Elena Rybakina continued her winning streak to sweep Amanda Anisimova aside in her first match at the WTA Finals.
Rybakina was the last player to qualify for the Finals, which was helped by winning the Ningbo Open and reaching the semi-finals of the Tokyo Open before withdrawing from the event.
She has now won seven matches in a row after needing less than an hour to beat Anisimova 6-3 6-1.
Iga Swiatek beats rusty Madison Keys on opening day of WTA Finals
11:25
,
Jamie Braidwood
Iga Swiatek required just 61 minutes to beat Madison Keys on Saturday, in what was the American’s first match since the US Open two months ago.
Swiatek won 6-1 6-2 and the World No 2 said afterwards that she was “in the zone” during the straight-sets win.
"Kind of [happy] with everything. Mostly my serve and overall focus,” Swiatek said.
"I was in the zone from the beginning to the end, and I really wanted to keep it that way."
WTA Finals: Group permutations
11:10
,
Jamie Braidwood
If Swiatek and Keys win: Swiatek advances as group winner, Anisimova eliminated
If Rybakina and Anisimova win: Rybakina advances as group winner, Keys eliminated
If Swiatek wins in straight sets and Anisimova wins in three sets: Swiatek advances in top-two, Keys remains alive
If Rybakina wins in straight sets and Keys wins in three sets: Rybakina advances in top-two, Anisimova remains alive
Today's WTA Finals order of play
11:04
,
Jamie Braidwood
From 12:00pm GMT: (1) Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini v (6) Hsieh Su-Wei and Jelena Ostapenko
Not before 2pm GMT: (2) Iga Swiatek v (6) Elena Rybakina
Followed by: (4) Amanda Anisimova v (7) Madison Keys
Followed by: (4) Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens v (8) Asia Muhammad and Demi Schuurs
Hello and welcome
11:00
,
Jamie Braidwood
Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina will look to back up their opening wins at the WTA Finals on day three of the tournament in Riyadh.
Swiatek swept aside a rusty Madison Keys 6-1 6-2 while Rybakina took down Wimbledon and US Open finalist Amanda Anisimova on Saturday.
Swiatek has defeated Rybakina in all four of their meetings this season, after previously trailing their head-to-head 4-2 at the start of the year.
In the second all-American match of the week, the loser of the match between Anisimova and Keys could face an early elimination from the Finals.