Elena Rybakina staged an impressive comeback against Iga Świątek at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Monday, defeating the World No. 2 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. The victory marks a significant breakthrough for Rybakina, who had not defeated Świątek in any of their four meetings earlier this year.
Elena Rybakina’s Impressive Comeback Win Against Iga Świątek
Świątek made a commanding start to the match, breaking Rybakina’s serve in the second game and dominating the first set, winning it 6-3 in 36 minutes. Her serve was sharp and her groundstrokes delivered with considerable pace, making it difficult for Rybakina to establish rhythm.
The second set brought a dramatic shift in momentum as Rybakina began to assert herself and take charge, with her serves becoming the decisive factor. She secured the second set 6-1 with increasing confidence and then completely dominated the third, winning 6-0. She won 12 of the final 13 games played in the match, showcasing total dominance.
An absolute comeback!
Elena Rybakina @lenarybakina grabs her first win of the year over Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. #WTAFinalsRiyadh pic.twitter.com/COQis0m0Kl— Happy Tennis (@happy_tennise) November 3, 2025
She connected on 70 percent of her first serves, which proved crucial to her victory in a match that lasted one hour and 39 minutes. She became only the second player this year to defeat Świątek after losing the opening set, with Madison Keys achieving this at the Australian Open.
“It’s always very tough to play against Iga because she brings so much intensity on the court,” Rybakina said in her post-match interview. “She started really well and I was a little slow. She broke my serve right away, which was difficult. But in the second set I pushed myself harder and my serve improved. I played better with each point.”
She revealed her mentality during the match, saying, “I’m happy that I stayed focused, no matter if I lost the first set. I was still trying to stay aggressive and do what we actually talked with the coach.” Talking about her dominance in the last two sets, Rybakina added, “Focusing more on my serve, and after I got some confidence leading in the second set, and everything was going my way.”
Rybakina on beating Swiatek in Riyadh
“You just beat Iga 6-0… a lot of people don’t do that to Iga Swiatek..”
Elena: “I’ve been playing really well the last few weeks. I’m really excited for my next match. Hopefully I can bring the same intensity”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) November 3, 2025
This win now gives them a 6-5 head-to-head record in favor of the Pole. This was also Rybakina’s first win against Świątek since April 2024, after which she lost to her four times consecutively this year.
Rybakina’s Strong Form Entering WTA Finals
Rybakina’s victory against Świątek improves her record to 2-0 at the WTA Finals and places her first in the Serena Williams Group. What’s interesting about her is the fact that she qualified for this championship as the final player to secure a spot in Riyadh.
A powerful late-season run marked her path to the Finals. She captured the Ningbo Open title just weeks before Riyadh, defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 in the final. She subsequently reached the semifinals at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, confirming her place among the year’s finalists, and withdrew from the tournament in controversy.
“I’ve been playing really well over the last few weeks,” Rybakina reflected on her impressive performance. “I was improving with each match and the results followed naturally. Even here at the Finals, I’m focusing on small details. It’s a tremendous opportunity to play against the top players. I hope I can maintain the same intensity and level of tennis.”
Rybakina’s winning streak now extends to eight consecutive matches, with her only loss in the last 11 games coming against World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. This dominant run across the Asian Swing demonstrates the quality of her current form. While she will secure her place in the semifinals if Amanda Anisimova defeats Keys later on Monday, her performance suggests she controls her own destiny in the tournament.