RYBAKINA ACES OPENING DAY
Elena Rybakina is not making any last-minute plays here at the WTA Finals as she took a decisive victory over Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-1 on the opening day in Riyadh.
She completed her win in 57 minutes to put herself ahead in the Serena Williams Group alongside Iga Swiatek, who beat Madison Keys earlier in the day.
It was Anisimova’s debut at the WTA Finals, and nerves seemed apparent from the beginning. She racked up 30 unforced errors across the match against Rybakina’s 18.
She struggled to find her rhythm against Rybakina, losing serve in the first game to start the match on the wrong foot.
Rybakina opened with ease in the second set as Anisimova continued to spiral, with her stellar serving carrying her through. She hit seven aces across the hour, five in the second set alone, to cement her victory.
Anisimova has work to do against Swiatek and Keys, while Rybakina will seek her first semi-final in her third WTA Finals appearance.