For years, Iga Swiatek has made tennis courts feel like snowfields—cold, ruthless, and unforgiving to anyone standing across the net. Bagels and breadsticks weren’t scorelines; they were signatures. But in a stunning reversal under the WTA Finals lights, Elena Rybakina turned the queen of domination into the one gasping for answers. Losing 6-3, 1-6, 0-6, Swiatek tasted her own icy medicine—and this time, it burned.

It wasn’t just a comeback from Rybakina. It was a reversal of identity. It wasn’t just a win. It was Rybakina stepping into the cold, efficient, ruthless shoes that Swiatek so famously wears. She has now won a set 6-1 for a 20th time in 2025, becoming just the second WTA player to reach 20. In fact, it’s also the first time she has reached 20 in a season in her career. Rybakina is now also the first player to score a set of 6-0 and 6-1 against Swiatek in the same match in over 4 years. Swiatek became the first player to lose three matches in a season with a 0-6 scoreline in the third set (since Flavia Pennetta in 2013).

If we take a look at Iga Swiatek’s record this season, she recently became the first WTA player since Steffi Graf (1986-1994) to win 40+ sets 6-0/6-1 in four consecutive seasons. But on the other side, we’ve also seen a 0-6 scoreline against her for the fourth time and a 1-6 scoreline for the ninth time this season. Talking about flipping the narrative and how she produced this most eye-catching score against sport’s most clinically dominant player, Elena Rybakina said, “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.”

No victory roar. No bold celebration. Just quiet confidence—the kind that comes from knowing you can take down the very best in their strongest territory. For years, fans waited for someone who could match Swiatek's intensity, precision, and mental steel. After Aryna Sabalenka, it seems now Rybakina has stepped up to throw a major challenge to the Pole.

Among current players, only Venus Williams (28) has made more wins over opponents ranked in the Top 2 of the WTA Rankings than Elena Rybakina (11). She’s, in fact, now the second player to claim 40 hard-court WTA-level wins in 2025 after Iga Swiatek. However, despite snapping a 4-match losing streak against the Pole, she still trails Swiatek by a fine margin (5-6) in the H2H record.

Rybakina was the last player to qualify for Riyadh, but with this win against Swiatek, she is now off to the semis. But before that, she’ll take on America’s Madison Keys in her last group stage match. What else did the Kazakh star say after the match, though?

Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek analyze their epic duel

Elena Rybakina’s power countered Iga Swiatek’s pressure. Her calm countered Iga’s fire. And on days like this, Rybakina’s game can drown out even the Tour’s most dominant force. This was more than a victory. It was a shift. A reminder that even queens of domination aren’t immune to being swept away.

While sharing her thoughts about the match, Rybakina said, “She (Swiatek) brings so much intensity to the court. I feel like she started the match really well, and I was a little bit slow, so on serve straight away, she broke me. It was difficult to be down, but in the second set, I pushed myself. My serve improved, and I’m really happy that I stepped in and played better each point. I’m very happy with my performance.”

Elena Rybakina has had a wonderful season this year, winning two titles and having a win-loss record of 56-20. And all she now wants is to focus on the little details and grab all the opportunities to play against the top players with both her hands. She’s excited to play against the world number 7, Madison Keys, in the next match, and all she hopes is to bring the same intensity and the same game in that match as well.

For Iga Swiatek, it’s time to step up as she will be facing in-form American Amanda Anisimova in her next match. After the match, Swiatek revealed that she wants to keep herself away from overanalyzing her defeat. “Rybakina was more aggressive and solid in finishing rallies. I need to watch this match again to understand everything, but also not overanalyze it. I'm trying to occupy my mind with other things between matches. Right now, I'm watching ‘Game of Thrones.’”

How did the tennis experts react to this epic duel, though? Tennis legend and Sky Sports pundit Tim Henman said, “It was rapid fire, the first set for Swiatek, but then just over an hour for the final two. Who would have predicted that? There are definitely going to be a few questions for Swiatek and her team. She has won one and lost one. She has that all-important third match, but Elena Rybakina will be thrilled with that performance. We know she has the power and the pace, but she had the consistency today as well.”

On the other side, another former pro, Laura Robson, highlighted how Rybakina looked much healthier and heaped praise on her effortless ball-striking ability. All she now hopes for her is to have a healthy season in 2026 and bring out her best next season. She was impressed with the way Rybakina kept her calm despite losing the first game. But at the same time, she also pointed out how Swiatek started to panic a bit in the later stages.

“From Swiatek’s perspective, I am sure she can be disappointed, but I kind of think towards the end of the match it was out of her hands, so you have to walk off and say my opponent played too well at times today,” said Robson during her conversation on Sky Sports. 

How much will you rate Elena Rybakina’s performance out of 5 in this match? Share your thoughts if you think she has a good chance of winning the WTA Finals this year.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta