Elena Rybakina began her WTA Finals journey in emphatic fashion, sweeping aside Amanda Anisimova 6–3, 6–1 in under an hour. The 2022 Wimbledon champion looked razor-sharp from the first ball, controlling rallies with precision and barely allowing her opponent a foothold in the match.
The victory lifts Rybakina to second place in her group, just behind Iga Swiatek, who also recorded a straight-sets win over Madison Keys. In two days, the Kazakh will face the world No. 2 in a clash that could determine the group winner and an early place in the semifinals.
Composed and clinical in the first set
Rybakina set the tone immediately, breaking Anisimova’s serve in the opening game and consolidating with a solid hold. Her game was calm yet forceful—measured aggression from the baseline, backed by a rock-steady first serve.
Anisimova managed to stay within reach, holding serve several times and even creating a break point at 3–4, but Rybakina saved it. From there, the world No. 6 tightened her grip, breaking again to seal the set 6–3. A 1.51 dominance ratio underlined her dominance, while Anisimova’s 0.66 reflected the pressure she faced throughout.
Anisimova vs Rybakina – Set 1 Stats
| Statistic | Anisimova | Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.66 | 1.51 |
| Serve Rating | 248 | 309 |
| Aces | 1 | 3 |
| Double Faults | 1 | 0 |
| 1st Serve % | 73% (19/26) | 68% (17/25) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 58% (11/19) | 82% (14/17) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 57% (4/7) | 56% (5/9) |
| Break Points Saved | 33% (1/3) | 100% (1/1) |
| Service Games | 60% (3/5) | 100% (4/4) |
| Ace % | 3.8% | 12% |
| Double Fault % | 3.8% | 0% |
| Return Rating | 62 | 192 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 18% (3/17) | 42% (8/19) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 44% (4/9) | 43% (3/7) |
| Break Points Won | 0% (0/1) | 67% (2/3) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/4) | 40% (2/5) |
| Pressure Points | 25% (1/4) | 75% (3/4) |
| Service Points | 58% (15/26) | 72% (18/25) |
| Return Points | 28% (7/25) | 42% (11/26) |
| Total Points | 43% (22/51) | 57% (29/51) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 4 | 4 |
| Total Games | 33% (3/9) | 67% (6/9) |
| Max Games In A Row | 1 | 2 |
| Set 1 Duration | 0h31m | |
Ruthless finish in the second set
The second set was one-way traffic. Rybakina stepped up the pace, dictating play with deep, penetrating forehands and winning 12 of the first 15 points to race ahead 3–0. Anisimova could only hold serve once before Rybakina reeled off three straight games to complete a 6–3, 6–1 masterclass.
Anisimova vs Rybakina – Set 2 Stats
| Statistic | Anisimova | Rybakina |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 0.35 | 2.86 |
| Serve Rating | 173 | 306 |
| Aces | 1 | 4 |
| Double Faults | 2 | 1 |
| 1st Serve % | 71% (15/21) | 70% (14/20) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 53% (8/15) | 93% (13/14) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 17% (1/6) | 40% (2/5) |
| Break Points Saved | 0% (0/2) | – |
| Service Games | 33% (1/3) | 100% (4/4) |
| Ace % | 4.8% | 20% |
| Double Fault % | 9.5% | 5% |
| Return Rating | 67 | 297 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 7% (1/14) | 47% (7/15) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 60% (3/5) | 83% (5/6) |
| Break Points Won | – | 100% (2/2) |
| Return Games | 0% (0/4) | 67% (2/3) |
| Pressure Points | 0% (0/2) | 100% (2/2) |
| Service Points | 43% (9/21) | 80% (16/20) |
| Return Points | 20% (4/20) | 57% (12/21) |
| Total Points | 32% (13/41) | 68% (28/41) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 2 | 6 |
| Total Games | 14% (1/7) | 86% (6/7) |
| Max Games In A Row | 1 | 3 |
| Set 2 Duration | 0h27m | |
Everything about Rybakina’s performance oozed control — the precision of her ball striking, the economy of her movement, the composure of her demeanor. It was the kind of performance that signals championship intent.
A clear warning to the field
With this dominant start, Rybakina sends a loud and clear message to her rivals in Riyadh: she’s ready to challenge for the title. If she maintains this level, her upcoming encounter with Swiatek could well preview the final itself.
Cool-headed, clinical, and utterly composed — Rybakina has arrived at the WTA Finals in full flight.