By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, November 3, 2025
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty for WTA
Without a win in four meetings with Iga Swiatek this season, Elena Rybakina took the court with a sky for redemption.
Today, Rybakina delivered a declarative shutout to bagel queen Swiatek in a resounding Riyadh statement victory.
Rybakina made it nine matches in a row to complete a titanic turnaround by defeating Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 in the WTA Finals.
After serving out in her opening service game, Rybakina dropped the hammer on the second seed. Rybakina force-fed Swiatek her first bagel set since losing to American Emma Navarro 4-6, 6-4, 0-6 at the China Open in Beijing last month.
This is Rybakia’s first win over Swiatek since the semifinals of Stuttgart 2024. Not only did Rybakina serve sharp, she broke Swiatek in five of her last six service games. Overall, Rybakina won 14 of 23 second serve points and converted five of seven break points.
“It’s always very difficult to play against Iga – she brings so much intensity to the court,” Rybakina told Andrew Krasny. “She started the match really well. She broke me. It was hard to be down.
“The second set I pushed myself, the serve improved… I’m very happy with the performance. Thank you very much for the support.”
The last woman to qualify for the elite eight in Riyadh, Rybakina is now the first to advance to the semi-finals. Rybakina improved to 2-0, including 4-1 in straight sets, in the Serena Williams Group of round robin competition.
Rybakina dismissed Amanda Anisimova’s lead in a 6-3, 6-1 opening day victory. If Anisimova beats Madison Keys in today’s second round match, then Rybakina advances to the final four.
Resilience, a booming serve and her willingness to attack Swiatek’s forehand and force the Pole to counter deep moves from that forehand angle were all key elements to Rybakina’s impressive comeback win today.
“Mentally I definitely stayed focused, even if I lost the first set, I was trying to stay aggressive,” Rybakina said. “I was trying to follow the tactics and focus more on my serve. I got some confidence leading in the second set and everything was going my way.”
An absolute comeback! @lenarybakina grabs her first win of the year over Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/DMclMlJwOP
— wta (@WTA) November 3, 2025
Swiatek saved a break point in her opening service game, then closed and won 11 straight service points.
Spreading the pitch with twisted arms, Swiatek drew back-to-back errors to break a 2-0 lead.
The Wimbledon winner backed the break to love for a 3-0 advantage after 11 minutes of play.
As the group progressed, Rybakina was dialing in her drives more effectively. However, Swiatek’s superior movement and stamina helped him hold onto the lead.
Serving hard on the T, Swiatek sealed the 35-minute lead on her second set point. Swiatek won 90 percent of her first serve points and served with slices down the tee in the first set.
Although Rybakina doubled Swiatek’s winning score in the opening game – 10 to 5 – she committed 11 more unforced errors (17 to 6).
Shaking off the first set, Rybakina hit with more authority to start the second set. Although Swiatek hit it forward with more spin than any elite eight in Riyadh, net clearance became an issue. Swiatek double-faulted at the net to face break point and then hit a forehand into the back of the net as Rybakina broke through in the second game.
Rybakina captured an ace on T, holding to love for a 3-0 lead in the second set.
Overall, the sixth seed did a better job of mixing up her service rotations. At times, Rybak’s confusing forehand serves wide on the ad side and down the T in doubles and other tips she sped up the lower serves Swiatek troubling. Moving the Pole wide, Rybakina grabbed a forehand winner that held for 4-1.
The second seed spit out three errors in a row as Rybakina broke again for 5-1.
On her second set point, Rybakina closed out the second set by forcing a decider after 68 minutes. Swiatek sabotaged her cause by committing 19 unforced errors in the second set and 17 unforced errors in the third set.
In the final set, Rybaking was calling the shots as a scratchy Swiatek couldn’t keep pace. It looked like Swiatek didn’t trust her ability to stay in extended rallies and tried to squeeze shots closer to the lane.
The result was pain and punishment.
A sliding Swiatek netted an extended forehand as Rybakina broke through to start the decider.
Two games later, Rybakina blasted a backhand up the middle, drawing a deep counter, breaking again for 3-0.
Even on the rare occasion she was forced to defend, Rybakina turned defense into offense by ripping an opposite-court winner to keep 15 for 4-0.
By then, the former Wimbledon champion had essentially defeated Swiatek’s desire. Rybakina took 12 of the last 15 points.
On match point, Swiatek did little more as Rybakina hit an ace on the tee, snapping her four-match losing streak to the Pole in one hour and 37 minutes.
“I’ve been playing really well the last few weeks,” said Rybakina, who edged Indian Wells champion Mirra Andreeva to qualify. “First of all, I was improving in every game and the results followed.
“Here too I’m trying to focus on small details. I’m very excited for my next match and I hope I can bring the same intensity and the same game.”
