Post by : Meena
Hassan
The match renewed a rivalry that stretched back to this summer's Grand Slams: Swiatek had blanked Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to lift Wimbledon in July, while the American returned the favour with a US Open quarter-final victory in September.
Play began with 12 consecutive service holds before Swiatek edged the opening-set tiebreak, sealing it after Anisimova's forehand drifted long.
In the second set Anisimova lifted her intensity and produced the match's first break in the 10th game, forcing a decisive third set at the King Saud University Sports Arena. She then broke again to open a 3-1 lead in the final set and held on to complete the comeback.
"My mum keeps telling me I win so many three-set matches and I'm strong — that helped me today," Anisimova said. "Against Iga it was tough but I enjoyed it and told myself to go all out."
Earlier, Elena Rybakina continued her strong run with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova. Madison Keys withdrew with illness and Mirra Andreeva was ruled unfit to play. Rybakina, who has already beaten Anisimova and Swiatek in the event, absorbed pressure from a fresh Alexandrova, broke in the ninth game to take the first set and then tightened her serve and groundstrokes to close out the match.
World number one Aryna Sabalenka is due to meet Coco Gauff on Thursday, with both players vying for a semi-final berth from the Steffi Graf group. Jessica Pegula can improve her prospects when she faces the already-eliminated Jasmine Paolini.
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