Amanda Anisimova staged an impressive comeback in the WTA Finals round-robin stage, battling past fellow American Madison Keys 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 to keep her semifinal hopes alive in her debut appearance at the season-ending championship.
The world No. 4 turned the match around after dropping the opening set, showing composure and grit against the powerful Keys. The win not only keeps Anisimova in contention but also indirectly benefits Elena Rybakina, who has already secured her spot in the semifinals following her three-set victory over Iga Swiatek. The final group match between Anisimova and Swiatek will now decide who joins Rybakina in the final four, while Keys’ second defeat means her campaign in Riyadh is over.
A Nervy Start Filled with Breaks
Both women, still settling into their first WTA Finals appearance, began nervously. Keys broke first, triggering a string of four consecutive service breaks that left the score tied at 2–2. Each player converted their first two break chances, underscoring how fragile both serves were early on.
At 2–3, Anisimova finally steadied her delivery, but Keys struck back again. From 4–4, the Australian Open champion surged ahead, winning eight of the last nine points to take the set 6–4 after 36 minutes.
Anisimova vs Keys – Set One Stats
| Statistic | Anisimova | Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.85 | 1.18 |
| Serve Rating | 195 | 219 |
| Aces | 1 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 57% (16/28) | 58% (15/26) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 44% (7/16) | 73% (11/15) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 54% (7/13) | 30% (3/10) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/3) | 0% (0/2) |
| Service Games | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Ace % | 3.6% | 7.7% |
| Double Fault % | 3.6% | 15.4% |
| Return Rating | 237 | 262 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 27% (4/15) | 56% (9/16) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 70% (7/10) | 46% (6/13) |
| Break Points Won | 100% (2/2) | 100% (3/3) |
| Return Games | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Pressure Points | 40% (2/5) | 60% (3/5) |
| Service Points | 50% (14/28) | 58% (15/26) |
| Return Points | 42% (11/26) | 50% (14/28) |
| Total Points | 46% (25/54) | 54% (29/54) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 6 |
| Total Games | 40% (4/10) | 60% (6/10) |
| Max Games In A Row | 2 | 3 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h36m | |
Anisimova Finds Her Rhythm
Keys carried that momentum into the second set, quickly moving ahead 3–1 after five straight game wins. Yet Anisimova responded with the poise of a top contender. Winning 82 percent of points behind her first serve, she began dictating the pace, stepping inside the baseline and finishing points at the net. Her aggression paid off as she reeled off five of the next six games to level the match 6–3.
Anisimova vs Keys – Set Two Stats
| Statistic | Anisimova | Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.38 | 0.73 |
| Serve Rating | 270 | 215 |
| Aces | 1 | 0 |
| Double Faults | 0 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 63% (17/27) | 54% (13/24) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 82% (14/17) | 69% (9/13) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 46% (6/13) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (1/2) | 33% (1/3) |
| Service Games | 80% (4/5) | 50% (2/4) |
| Ace % | 3.7% | 0% |
| Double Fault % | 0% | 16.7% |
| Return Rating | 202 | 144 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 31% (4/13) | 18% (3/17) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 54% (7/13) | 56% (5/9) |
| Break Points Won | 67% (2/3) | 50% (1/2) |
| Return Games | 50% (2/4) | 20% (1/5) |
| Pressure Points | 60% (3/5) | 40% (2/5) |
| Service Points | 67% (18/27) | 54% (13/24) |
| Return Points | 46% (11/24) | 33% (9/27) |
| Total Points | 57% (29/51) | 43% (22/51) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 5 |
| Total Games | 67% (6/9) | 33% (3/9) |
| Max Games In A Row | 5 | 2 |
| Match Set Duration | 0h35m | |
Commanding in the Decider
Anisimova’s confidence surged in the third set. She broke early, surged to a 2–0 lead, and never looked back. Keys struggled to generate free points, landing barely half of her first serves and fading under pressure.
Another break pushed Anisimova ahead 5–1 before Keys briefly held serve to stay alive. Moments later, after just under two hours, Anisimova sealed victory 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 — her first career win at the WTA Finals.
Anisimova vs Keys – Deciding Set Stats
| Statistic | Anisimova | Keys |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.55 | 0.65 |
| Serve Rating | 295 | 212 |
| Aces | 0 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 4 |
| 1st Serve % | 59% (16/27) | 58% (14/24) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 88% (14/16) | 50% (7/14) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 50% (6/12) | 55% (6/11) |
| Break Points Saved | 100% (2/2) | 60% (3/5) |
| Service Games | 100% (4/4) | 50% (2/4) |
| Ace % | 0% | 12.5% |
| Double Fault % | 7.4% | 16.7% |
| Return Rating | 185 | 63 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 50% (7/14) | 13% (2/16) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 45% (5/11) | 50% (6/12) |
| Break Points Won | 40% (2/5) | 0% (0/2) |
| Return Games | 50% (2/4) | 0% (0/4) |
| Pressure Points | 57% (4/7) | 43% (3/7) |
| Service Points | 70% (19/27) | 54% (13/24) |
| Return Points | 46% (11/24) | 30% (8/27) |
| Total Points | 59% (30/51) | 41% (21/51) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 1 |
| Max Points In A Row | 5 | 4 |
| Total Games | 75% (6/8) | 25% (2/8) |
| Max Games In A Row | 3 | 1 |
| Deciding Set Duration | 0h34m | |
Winning twelve of the final fourteen games, Anisimova showcased not only her shot-making but also her growing mental resilience. The result keeps her firmly in the hunt for a semifinal berth — and perhaps marks the tournament where her comeback finds full validation.