Elena Rybakina maintains winning run at WTA Finals after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova in Riyadh

Anisimova books semi-final spot with comeback win over Swiatek

Tennis - WTA Finals - Riyadh - King Saud University Indoor Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - November 5, 2025 Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina in action during her group stage match against Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova REUTERS / Stephanie LecocqShow less

Elena Rybakina stayed unbeaten at the WTA Finals with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over second alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova on Wednesday after Madison Keys withdrew from their final round-robin meeting with illness and Mirra Andreeva was not fit to play.

Rybakina arrived for the clash after victories over Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek but the former Wimbledon champion came under pressure against a fresh Alexandrova, before breaking in the ninth game and then claiming the opening set with a hold.

The Kazakh, who staved off three breakpoints in the first set, cranked up her big serve and heavy hitting early in the second to go 3-1 up and applied the squeeze to close in on another win ahead of the semi-finals.

Another break courtesy of a powerful return of serve left Rybakina one game away and the 26-year-old eventually wrapped up the victory despite some struggles on her own delivery late in the clash at King Saud University Sports Arena.

In the later match, Anisimova pulled off a stellar comeback to get the better of Swiatek 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 6-2 and book her spot in the last four.

Anisimova improved her three-set record this season to an impressive 15-3 by posting her 10th top-10 win of the year.

"It's so funny, my mom keeps telling me: 'You know you've won like so many three-set matches this year? You're so strong'. I was actually thinking about that. Against Iga today it was so, so tough, but honestly, I enjoyed it," said Anisimova, who reached the finals at Wimbledon and the US Open this year.

"I'm so excited (to be in the semi-finals), this is surreal, especially for my first time playing here.”

Meanwhile, Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams will play in January's Auckland Classic at the age of 45, tournament organisers announced on Wednesday.

Williams has been awarded a wild card for the Australian Open warm-up event from January 5-11 after only returning to the circuit in August at the US Open after a 16-month break.

“She is one of the great players in the modern era and her performances on the court speak for themselves,” said tournament director Nicolas Lamperin, who added that she was in “remarkable shape and form”.

“Off the court she has made an equally significant contribution to the game and to the development of female players worldwide,” he said.

“Venus has had a profound influence on the evolution of women's tennis and has inspired the next generation with her unshakeable passion for the sport.”

Williams, who won the Auckland Classic in 2015 when she beat Caroline Wozniacki in the final, has lifted five Wimbledon singles titles, two US Opens and an Olympic gold, in Sydney in 2000.

Lamperin said it was a “privilege” to have Williams back at the tournament.

“All sports fans should take this opportunity to watch one of the sport's all-time greats in action.”

Japan's four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka was also announced as a confirmed entry for the tournament.

The Australian Open, won this year by Keys with the American claiming a first Grand Slam title after defeating the reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka in three sets, begins in Melbourne on January 18.