In the highly anticipated semifinals of the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka and Amanda Anisimova will meet again, rekindling their rivalry from the recent US Open final. Additionally, Jessica Pegula is set to face the unbeaten Elena Rybakina. The matches, taking place in Riyadh, mark the culmination of the round-robin stage, where the top singles players and doubles teams vie for a spot in Saturday’s championship showdown.
Sabalenka will look to continue her momentum against Anisimova, having recently defended her US Open title with a victory over the American. The World No. 1 has swept her group for the first time in her career at the WTA Finals and aims to secure her first championship appearance since 2022. Sabalenka’s impressive form is underscored by her strong performance in tiebreaks; she has won all 13 opening-set tiebreaks so far this year.
Anisimova, the only debutante in this year’s finals, enters the match with fresh confidence after defeating Iga Swiatek in a high-stakes qualifier. Despite her previous loss to Sabalenka in the US Open, she managed to take a significant victory from Sabalenka at Wimbledon, showcasing her potential to challenge the top players in hard court matches.
Meanwhile, Jessica Pegula is eager to advance to her second finals appearance after making it to the championship match in Cancun last year. She will face Rybakina, who has dominated her matches in Riyadh, marking her first successful advancement from the group stage in three WTA Finals appearances. Rybakina’s powerful serve has been pivotal, leading her to victory in previous encounters.
In doubles, the competition remains fierce as Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend take on former champions Veronika Kudermetova and Elise Mertens. This marks a rematch from their US Open semifinal, adding another layer of excitement to the day. In the other doubles semifinal, Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko, who have been in superb form, will take on Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani.
With budding stories of rivalry and seasoned competitors displaying remarkable performances, the semifinals promise thrilling action as players push towards their ultimate goal: securing a spot in the finals. Fans can look forward to an electrifying day of tennis filled with high-stakes matches that could redefine careers and set the stage for future encounters.