Trending 
Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina extended her winning streak to eight matches with a stunning 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 victory over second-seeded Iga Swiatek in round-robin action at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Monday.
The Kazakh’s triumph follows her opening win against Amanda Anisimova on Saturday, putting her firmly atop the Serena Williams Group and on course for a semi-final berth on Friday.
Rybakina, who was the final qualifier for this season’s WTA Finals, earned her place with a title in Ningbo and a semi-final appearance in Tokyo during the closing stages of the regular season.
“I’ve been playing really well the last few weeks. I was improving each match, and, of course, the results followed,” said the 2022 Wimbledon champion. “It’s a great opportunity to play here against the top players. I’m really excited about the next matches, and hopefully I can bring the same intensity and the same game.”
The match initially looked set to continue Swiatek’s dominance, with Rybakina having lost all four previous encounters with the Pole this year.
She dropped the first set in just 35 minutes, but the sixth seed swiftly adapted her tactics, using her kick serve and powerful forehand to dominate the remainder of the match, winning 12 of the next 13 games and completing the upset in one hour and 37 minutes.
“It’s always very tough to play against Iga; she brings so much intensity on the court,” Rybakina said. “In the second set, I pushed myself, the serve improved, and I’m happy I stepped in and played much better. Mentally, I’m happy I stayed focused; even after losing the first set, I stayed aggressive. I hope I can keep playing like this for the rest of the tournament.”
Later on Monday, seventh-seeded American Madison Keys is set to face compatriot Anisimova.
Should the fourth seed, Anisimova, claim victory, Rybakina will officially secure her place in the semi-finals as the Serena Williams Group leader.
