Amanda Anisimova beat fellow American Madison Keys in three sets at the WTA Masters in Riyadh, allowing Elena Rybakina to secure her place in the last four.
After four matches, we are starting to see things more clearly in the “Serena Williams” group at the WTA Masters in Riyadh. Elena Rybakina is in fact guaranteed to see the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament for the first time in her career, at 26 years old, while Madison Keys (30 years old), for her first participation in nine years, is already eliminated. The American, already beaten by Swiatek on Saturday, suffered a second defeat,
against her compatriot Amanda Anisimova, who won with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in 1h44 for their very first confrontation.
Keys broke down
The Wimbledon and US Open finalist had almost no room for error after her defeat against Rybakina in the opening, and the first set did not go in her favor. The first four games ended with breaks (2-2), and at 4-4, Keys again managed to take the service of Anisimova, who failed to break behind. On her momentum, the winner of the Australian Open led 3-1 in the second set, but she gradually lost the thread. His young compatriot (24 years old) managed to win five games in a row to take the set. Anisimova then led 2-0 then 4-1 in the final set, which she finally won 5-2 after a long game.
Anisimova-Swiatek, act 3
Affected by a virus, Keys did not want to contaminate the winner and did not shake her hand (nor the referee). She will face Elena Rybakina on Wednesday in a match without stakes (the Kazakh is certain to finish first, the American last), in order to conclude what will remain, according to her, the best season of her careerwith this first Grand Slam victory. Amanda Anisimova will play a sort of quarter-final against Iga Swiatek, which will see the winner reach the last four. The American was crushed by the Pole in the Wimbledon final (6-0, 6-0), before taking her revenge in the quarter-finals of the US Open (6-4, 6-3).
MASTERS WTA / RIYADH
SERENA WILLIAMS GROUP
1- Rybakina: 2-0 (+3 sets/+16 games) >>> QUALIFIED
1- Swiatek: 1 victory, 1 defeat (+1 set/+1 game)
3- Anisimova: 1-1 (-1 set/-3 games)
4- Keys: 0-2 (-4 sets/-14 games) >>> ELIMINATED
