Jun 1, 2025; Paris, FR; Amanda Anisimova of the United States during her match against Aryna Sabalenka on day eight at Roland Garros Stadium.

tennis

Ruthless Amanda Anisimova Wins Do-or-Die Battle to Knock Iga Swiatek Out of WTA Finals 2025

Anisimova joins Rybakina in the SFs, Swiatek fails to qualify.

Jun 1, 2025; Paris, FR; Amanda Anisimova of the United States during her match against Aryna Sabalenka on day eight at Roland Garros Stadium.

Ever since losing the Wimbledon final to Iga Swiatek, American powerhouse Amanda Anisimova has seemingly turned a page. Having gained sweet redemption at Flushing Meadows, the 24-year-old pulled off another epic display to oust the Polish superstar at the WTA Finals 2025. With a spot in the semifinals up for grabs, Anisimova dropped the opener before completing a mind-boggling 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2 victory.

It happens to be Swiatek’s second consecutive defeat after taking the first set. Both players came into the match on the back of crushing defeats to former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. As a result, the winner of this encounter would join the Kazakh mainstay in the final four from the Serena Williams Group. It was the No. 4 seed Anisimova who held the trump cards on Wednesday.

Anisimova d. Swiatek 6-7(3) 6-4 6-2

Amanda beats Iga for the 2nd time this season.

She clinches the last semifinal spot from the Serena Williams Group.

Since losing to Iga at Wimbledon, she’s won their last 2 meetings & now leads their head to head 2-1.

10th top 10 win of… pic.twitter.com/EoB8Rlwu80
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 5, 2025

Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek Fail to Assert Their Dominance in Key Clash

The match started with both players producing a high level on serve. Despite an opening game that lasted six minutes, Swiatek remained steadfast in her approach. Anisimova looked frustrated as she missed several first serves, but backed it up with some brilliant cross-court attacks to leave Swiatek wrong-footed. As both players saved multiple break points, the set was to be decided by a tie-break. The six-time Grand Slam champ maintained her composure with a flurry of winners to race ahead.

Anisimova knew that she had to change something, and opted to give herself a stern wake up call at the start of the second set. Yet, both players went all out in their attacks from behind the baseline but failed to convert the break point opportunities. At 4-5, Swiatek was bound to feel the pressure of staying in the set. Courtesy a weak second serve that has troubled her in the past, a fierce putaway by the World No. 4 meant that we were going the distance.

Anisimova Roars Back to Complete Stunning Comeback in Riyadh

1/1 – Amanda Anisimova is the third American to reach the semi-final in her first appearance at the WTA Finals since 2000, after Serena Williams (2001) and Sloane Stephens (2018). Ready.#WTAFinalsRiyadh | @WTA @WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/Kco9O7SSln
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) November 5, 2025

There was more pressure on the Swiatek serve in the deciding set, with Anisimova going for her shots to set up two break points. And while the reigning queen of Wimbledon escaped on the first occasion, an uncanny double fault gave her American counterpart a 3-1 lead. From there, it was one way traffic. Swiatek was seemingly tentative and gifted short balls to Anisimova – which she accepted with open arms. Announcing yet again that her Wimbledon trauma is long gone, Anisimova fired a whipping forehand return winner to complete the formalities.

Amanda Anisimova's 3-set record in tour-level matches this season is 15-3 !

“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 today," she said on court.
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) November 5, 2025

“I think I was just going for my game more today as opposed to previous days,” said the two-time major finalist. She has now improved her head-to-head against Swiatek to 2-1. “I know the stakes are so high [and] I’m playing the best in the world. I think I was holding back in my last few matches. Today, I was just telling myself to go for it and go all out.”

Amanda Anisimova now awaits the results from the Steffi Graf Group – and will face either Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff or Jessica Pegula – in the semifinal stage.

(Image Credits: Susan Mullane, Imagn Images)

Amanda Anisimova

Iga Swiatek

Tennis

US Open

Wimbledon

WTA

WTA Finals 2025

Sankalp Harikrishnan

A passionate sports fan through and through, I am currently pursuing my MA in Global Sports Journalism. I specialise in tennis and football writing at The Playoffs News, and I have prior experience working at EssentiallySports and Sportskeeda. Born and raised in Bengaluru, India, sport was my safe space right from my childhood. After trying my hand at multiple sports and representing my educational institutions in cricket, badminton and table tennis, I found sports media to be my calling.