Like Iga Swiatek whom she will meet in the next match, Elena Rybakina easily dominated Amanda Anisimova (6-3, 6-1).
She did better than Iga Swiatek. Indeed, the Pole won her duel against Madison Keys in 1h01 for the start of the WTA Finals. Elena Rybakina, for her part, dominated Amanda Anisimova in 58 minutes. We expected a balanced duel between two big hitters. Finally, the Kazakhstani quickly ended all suspense in this second match of the Williams Group. A break at the start of the game and a first service ball made the difference (82% of points won). Adding three aces, Rybakina controlled the game, destroying the American’s small hopes.
At 4-3 in her favor, the world number six conceded a single break point, quickly saved to take the first set a few moments later on Anisimova’s serve (6-3).
Too many unforced errors for Anisimova
The second set was a copy and paste of the previous one with Rybakina even more efficient on her serve (13/14 points won on the first, 4 aces). Two breaks allowed her to quickly take the lead, facing a player lacking rhythm. Anisimova was playing her first official match since October 5 and her victory in the final in Beijing. A month later almost to the day, the American was back, with many unforced errors up her sleeve. 30 in total for only eight winning shots, when Rybakina committed “only” 18 unforced errors for 15 winning shots. A difference which explains the gap on the scoreboard.
With confidence, the Kazakhstani won her 52nd victory of the season this Saturday. Only Swiatek and Sabalenka did better. It is also his seventh victory in a row – removing his withdrawal from Tokyo during the 3rd round. Victorious in Ningbo where she notably dominated Jasmine Paolini, Rybakina takes an option for qualification in the semi-final and could be the nice surprise of these WTA Finals. His duel against Swiatek will provide an element of the answer on his ability to perform well against the top 3 in the world.
WTA FINALS – RIYADH
SERENA WILLIAMS GROUP
1- Swiatek: 1 victory, 0 defeat (+2 sets/+9 games)
2- Rybakina: 1-0 (+2 sets/+8 games)
3- Anisimova: 0-1 (-2 sets/-8 games)
4- Keys: 0-1 (-2 sets/-9 games)
