The big change spotted in Amanda Anisimova as she comes back to beat Iga Swiatek at the WTA Finals

Follow us on Google Discover

Amanda Anisimova made her way through to the last four of the WTA Finals with a big win over Iga Swiatek.

Trailing by a set to love, Anisimova refused to lie down and accept defeat, as she embarked on another impressive comeback.

Winning the second set 6-4, Anisimova forced a deciding set in Riyadh, as her Polish opponent began to falter.

Finishing the job, Anisimova defeated Swiatek 6-7, 6-4, 6-2, to book her place in the last four, where she will meet the winner of ‘Group Steffi Graf’.

After the match, former British star Laura Robson commented on the big change she’s noticed in Anisimova this year.

Laura Robson says Amanda Anisimova’s new-found consistency is helping her reach her full potential

Speaking to Sky Sports, Robson weighed in with her thoughts on the world number four.

“She can crack the ball can’t she! It’s exactly what we’ve known she’s able to do for years, and years, but it was just the consistency wasn’t there,” she said.

“That’s something she’s improved so much this season.

“That brings belief, when you feel you can hang in the rally with someone like Iga Swiatek, when you feel like, ‘I’m a good mover, I back myself going side to side if needed’, obviously she’s an attacking player, but I think we saw some really good defensive skills tonight as well.

“It’s so nice to see someone put it together like this.”

Robson believes Anisimova may have crumbled after losing the first set in previous years.

“I think this match last year, she would have had disappointment after the first, and then it would have gotten away from her very quickly,” she said.

“She would have gone for the same shots, but she would get disheartened if she missed them, and it would affect the next three or four games, and she’d gradually lose belief throughout the match.

“To see her compete like this, to enjoy the experience, and we’ve all seen her on the biggest stage, have the toughest match you possibly can [0-6, 0-6 vs Iga Swiatek – 2025 Wimbledon final], and yet she hasn’t lost that enjoyment.

“She’s loving it out there, and I was loving it courtside, just blown away by the hitting.”

The Brit was impressed with Anisimova’s commitment, which prevented Swiatek from taking advantage of several breakpoint opportunities.

“It was hectic at times, it was very tense from the side of the court,” said Robson.

“There was so little in it, we talk about the opportunities that Iga could have had in the return games, but just couldn’t convert any of those situations.

“Amanda [Anisimova] overall just played the braver tennis when it mattered most, didn’t lose belief after that first, stuck to her gameplan.

“Was just so focused, no matter what happened, she was just committed to one point at a time.”

Also speaking to Sky Sports, Tim Henman was full of praise for the WTA Finals debutant.

“Brilliant performance, even when she was down a set, she never let her head drop,” said Henman.

“Never dropped her serve against the number two player in the world, a truly incredible performance.

“She will go into those semifinals full of confidence.”

Anisimova will certainly approach her semifinal match with confidence, having just picked up her 10th top-10 win of the season.

Amanda Anisimova’s top-10 wins in 2025

The American star has now beaten 10 top-10 players this year, having only won eight matches against the world’s best before 2025.

• 1. 2025 Qatar Open 2R vs (10) Paula Badosa
• 2. 2025 Miami Open 3R vs (6) Mirra Andreeva
• 3. 2025 Queen’s QF vs (10) Emma Navarro
• 4. 2025 Queen’s SF vs (5) Qinwen Zheng
• 5. 2025 Wimbledon SF vs (1) Aryna Sabalenka
• 6. 2025 US Open QF vs (2) Iga Swiatek
• 7. 2025 China Open QF vs (8) Jasmine Paolini
• 8. 2025 China Open SF vs (3) Coco Gauff
• 9. 2025 WTA Finals RR vs (7) Madison Keys
• 10. 2025 WTA Finals RR vs (2) Iga Swiatek

Only time will tell if she can clinch an 11th win when she plays Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka or Jessica Pegula in the semifinals of this year’s WTA Finals.