WTA Finals 2025 Today: Serena Williams Group reaches boiling point as Iga Swiatek & Amanda Anisimova clash in all-or-nothing battle for semifinal spot

The WTA Finals are reaching the end of the group stage, and the Serena Williams group features an all-or-nothing battle for a semifinal spot between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova. The winner of this clash will join Elena Rybakina in the semifinals.

Swiatek and Anisimova both lost against lower-seeded Rybakina, leaving them with no choice but to win this game if they want to advance into the semifinals out of the Serena Williams group.

After being defeated by Rybakina in the opener, the World No. 4 rebounded with a win against fellow American Madison Keys 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Meanwhile, Swiatek opened the tournament with a win against Keys but faced an unexpected domination from Rybakina in her 6-3, 1-6, 0-6 loss.

Amanda Anisimova vs Iga Swiatek: H2H

Even though both have been busy all year, there have been only two meetings between Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek. The Polish star handed a brutal loss to Anisimova in the Wimbledon championships final. The American avenged her loss in the US Open quarterfinal.

Swiatek learns from her losses, and that's why the last time she was defeated back-to-back occurred four years ago at the WTA Finals in Guadalajara.

The first set will be crucial for both players. Anisimova doesn't handle pressure well, as she is 3-20 in matches after losing the first set. Meanwhile, Swiatek enjoys a 54-2 record this year after winning the first set.

What's happening in Stefani Graf group?

The WTA Finals in Riyadh have divided the top-ranked players into two groups of four players each. While Serena Williams' group is pretty much clear, things at Stefanie Graf's group haven't come up with a secured name in the semifinal.

Aryna Sabalenka has won both of her matches and leads the group, but she has not yet secured the semifinal spot. Meanwhile, we at least know that Jasmine Paolini has been eliminated since she has lost both of her matches.

Coco Gauff was stunned by Jessica Pegula, which makes things interesting in this group since the latter suffered a defeat against Sabalenka. Gauff is next scheduled to face Sabalenka. If the American wins, the group's standings will be interesting to watch.

The winner of this group will take on the winner of Amanda Anisimova vs Iga Swiatek. Meanwhile, Rybakina will face whoever finishes second in the Graf group.

Edited by Krutik Jain