WTA Finals tennis: Iga Swiatek v Amanda Anisimova; Elena Rybakina beats Ekaterina Alexandrova – live

4.53pm GMT Swiatek 6-6 Anisimova* (* denotes server): Anisimova is serving to stay in the set … Swiatek steps inside to hit a forehand return and make it 15-all. Anisimova goes a touch long with a backhand down the line and Swiatek sees a path forward at 15-30. But Anisimova isn’t having it. We’re going to a tie-break. 4.49pm GMT *Swiatek 6-5 Anisimova (* denotes server): Anisimova’s backhand return clips the line and it’s 0-30 … Swiatek responds with a forehand winner down the line, refusing to give in. Anisimova launches another powerful return on Swiatek’s second serve … and she has two break points. Swiatek saves the first and some staunch defence is required for the second. A huge opportunity has slipped away. Anisimova nets a backhand … but we’re back to deuce after she wallops a winner. Swiatek refuses to panic and secures another tough hold. 4.41pm GMT Swiatek 5-5 Anisimova* (* denotes server): Anisimova roars once again after a forehand escapes the reach of Swiatek’s backhand, making it 30-15. The American holds to keep this set nice and tense. 4.37pm GMT *Swiatek 5-4 Anisimova (* denotes server): Anisimova flies to pull off a thunderous forehand return and she is pumped to move to 15-30, sensing an opening. Swiatek whips the forehand of the night to make it 30-all though, resisting when she appeared trapped by a fine return. Anisimova laces a forehand: break point … but Swiatek quickly escapes trouble, an ace taking her to advantage. Swiatek defends brilliantly on her backhand but Anisimova’s power brings us back to deuce. Swiatek is victorious at the net to pull off a battling hold. 4.30pm GMT Swiatek 4-4 Anisimova* (* denotes server): Anisimova fires a touch long to close a lengthy rally, making it 15-all. Swiatek goes aggressive with a second-serve return but the forehand has too much on it. Anisimova has the chance to hold when she advances, but doesn’t find the corner with her forehand. A backhand winner down the line does the job, though. 4.24pm GMT *Swiatek 4-3 Anisimova (* denotes server): Swiatek holds to love, completed with a fine serve down the middle. This year’s Wimbledon champion is really starting to click now. Updated at 4.35pm GMT 4.23pm GMT Swiatek 3-3 Anisimova* (* denotes server): Swiatek hits a fizzing forehand return to take control of the rally and make it 15-30. An aggressive backhand return makes it 30-40 before Swiatek sends Anisimova on to the back foot, advancing to the net before smashing a forehand. Deuce. Anisimova roars after winning the next point and Swiatek’s forehand return on the second serve goes long. 4.16pm GMT *Swiatek 3-2 Anisimova (* denotes server): Swiatek sends down her first double fault of the night, but that’s her only error as she holds to 15. She’s recovered well on her serve after an iffy opening game. 4.13pm GMT Swiatek 2-2 Anisimova* (* denotes server): Anisimova looks a touch frustrated after a misplaced first serve – a double fault follows. But a release comes with a cross-court backhand and she wraps up the hold with an ace. 4.09pm GMT *Swiatek 2-1 Anisimova (* denotes server): Anisimova sends a stinging forehand down the line to make it 30-all but Swiatek laces a first serve down the middle before completing her hold with one out wide. 4.06pm GMT Swiatek 1-1 Anisimova* (* denotes server): Anisimova moves to 30-0 confidently but Swiatek unleashes a stonking forehand return to break the sequence. The former doesn’t let it break her rhythm, though, holding on for her first game. Updated at 4.12pm GMT 4.01pm GMT *Swiatek 1-0 Anisimova (* denotes server): Swiatek begins proceedings and Anisimova gets her opponent sliding away before a whopping forehand return makes it 0-30. Anisimova drags a forehand too wide and sends a backhand too far: 30-all. We head to deuce and Anisimova has a chance to break after whipping a backhand winner. But Swiatek shows some ticker to save it and hold. A six-minute game suggests we’re in for a serious contest. 3.52pm GMT Worth a read before we get going. Related: From burnout to brilliance: Amanda Anisimova on how honesty sparked her remarkable revival 3.50pm GMT Tim Henman backs Swiatek; Laura Robson opts for Anisimova. The winner heads to the semis; the loser goes home (the players, not the pundits). 3.47pm GMT Time for the one that really counts: Amanda Anisimova and Iga Swiatek walk out with their mascots, two kids having a pretty great time as they wave away. 3.33pm GMT So Rybakina maintains her 100% record. While she dropped off a little at the end, the placement of her winners stood out, and her aces arrived when she needed them. Alexandrova had her moments and tried to force through some winners down the line, but Rybakina never looked in any serious discomfort. 3.29pm GMT Rybakina beats Alexandrova 6-4, 6-4 Alexandrova catches Rybakina off guard with a sumptuous backhand return but the latter is quickly up to 30-15. A double fault complicates things … a second double fault really complicates things. What’s going on here? Alexandrova nets to relieve some tension but Rybakina misfires with her forehand to provide another break point. An ace down the middle is perfectly timed. Alexandrova goes long with a backhand, and Rybakina finally has match point. A spectacular cross-court forehand keeps Alexandrova alive but Rybakina eventually gets over the finish line. Updated at 4.10pm GMT 3.21pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-6, 4-5 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova holds to 15 but Rybakina has another chance to serve for the match. 3.19pm GMT Alexandrova 4-6, 3-5 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina has lost just two points on her serve so far in this set … but it’s 0-15 after Rybakina gets a backhand drop wrong: Alexandrova is quick to punish it. A forehand is sent way out of bounds, making it 0-30. Rybakina stays calm, an ace taking her to 30-all. But Alexandrova has a chance to break after a fine backhand … and she takes it after Rybakina drags a forehand! Updated at 3.24pm GMT 3.14pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-6, 2-5 Rybakina (* denotes server): A double fault sets up two break points for Rybakina. Alexandrova saves the first but a thumping, flat, get-out-the-way forehand return does the job. Rybakina is a game away from victory. 3.10pm GMT Alexandrova 4-6, 2-4 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina begins with a 117mph ace down the middle and this time it’s her turn for a love hold. 3.07pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-6, 2-3 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova responds by holding to love but it’s hard to see a change in direction here. 3.05pm GMT Alexandrova 4-6, 1-3 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina is cruising here, whipping effortless winners, serving big … yet Alexandrova reaches wide with a crushing forehand return to make it 30-15. Not that it bothers Rybakina, who closes with an ace. 3.01pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-6, 1-2 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova delivers a double fault, handing Rybakina another opening at 15-30. Another attempt at a down-the-line forehand goes wrong and a backhand into the net gives Rybakina the break and game. 2.58pm GMT Alexandrova 4-6, 1-1 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina leaves Alexandrova helpless with a forehand into the corner, and an ace takes the 2022 Wimbledon champion to 40-15. Another big serve completes the hold. 2.56pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-6, 1-0 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova is under the pump again, netting a backhand to make it 15-30. She finds some room to breathe with a backhand down the line and a second serve out wide makes it 40-30. She stays calm to hold. 2.51pm GMT Rybakina wins the first set 6-4 Alexandrova’s aggression proves costly as she miscues another forehand. Rybakina eases her way to 30-0 before a long backhand by Alexandrova. It’s a love hold for Rybakina, who is having a wonderful tournament. Alexandrova leads the count on winners, but Rybakina saved three break points and was quick to convert when she got the chance. Updated at 3.12pm GMT 2.47pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-5 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova’s forehand down the line is narrowly wide, and Rybakina catches her opponent out with a backhand return. Out comes a double fault … two break points, Rybakina finally handed an opening. A misplaced forehand follows and Rybakina has her break, perfectly timed. She’ll serve for the first set. Updated at 3.42pm GMT 2.43pm GMT Alexandrova 4-4 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina drags Alexandrova wide with her serve to set up an advance and go 15-0 up. Her first ace of the match follows, down the middle. Another ace delivers an authoritative hold. 2.40pm GMT *Alexandrova 4-3 Rybakina (* denotes server): Alexandrova is dominating in the ace column, sending down her sixth of the match to go 40-15 up. Her second serve does the job, too, with Rybakina’s backhand going wild. 2.38pm GMT Alexandrova 3-3 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina sends down a blistering serve to Alexandrova’s backhand; it’s not one for returning. At 30-all, Alexandrova returns with a stonking forehand winner: break point. Rybakina’s whippy backhand makes it deuce … and she saves another break point to hold. 2.32pm GMT *Alexandrova 3-2 Rybakina (* denotes server): Rybakina attacks Alexandrova’s second serve, coming inside to hit a deep forehand return that makes it 15-30. The former steps into a backhand winner to make it 30-40, but Alexandrova resists, closing the game with an ace. 2.29pm GMT Alexandrova 2-2 Rybakina* (* denotes server): Rybakina has her flow now, the forehand winners taking her to a love hold. Updated at 2.39pm GMT 2.27pm GMT *Alexandrova 2-1 Rybakina (* denotes server): Rybakina wins her first point on Alexandrova’s serve, whipping a delicious, unreachable forehand into the corner. But Alexandrova’s game remains in good order, holding to 30. 2.22pm GMT Alexandrova 1-1 Rybakina* (* denotes server): This is quite the start from Alexandrova. She takes us to 0-30 before Rybakina wallops a big serve to set up an advance to the net, smashing away for her first point of the match. A forehand slice goes long from Alexandrova, taking us to 30-all. Rybakina nets a backhand: break point. Alexandrova’s backhand finds the net, too. Rybakina keeps her cool to go level. 2.18pm GMT *Alexandrova 1-0 Rybakina (* denotes server): And we’re off. It’s Alexandrova who gets us going, and with some style too: a couple of forehand winners as she holds to love. 2.08pm GMT Alexandrova actually leads the head-to-head (3-2) with Rybakina. That being said, Rybakina triumphed when they met in the final at Ningbo last month 3-6, 6-0, 6-2. The pair make their way out on to the court – we’ll be up and running shortly. 1.59pm GMT Alexandrova replaces Keys because Mirra Andreeva, the world No 9, “elected to not sign in due to not being fit to play today”, says the WTA. 1.42pm GMT This, from a few days ago, is an insightful piece on how players are being let down by the WTA. Related: Women’s tennis thriving on the court as season wraps but WTA must catch up 1.37pm GMT Preamble Hello, hello, hello and welcome to another day at the WTA Finals. With all due respect to our opening clash, the real contest is between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova. Their meeting in the Wimbledon final four months ago was historically one-sided, Swiatek triumphing 6-0, 6-0, yet it took just a few weeks for Anisimova to make an astonishing recovery. The American pulled off a straight-sets win against Swiatek in the US Open quarters and now we go to the end of the trilogy. Today’s winner will advance to the semi-finals in Riyadh. Before that we’ve got Elena Rybakina against Madison Keys Ekaterina Alexandrova. Keys has dropped out with illness in what is a dead rubber, so in comes the world No 10. Rybakina will look to continue her 100% record, having defeated Swiatek and Anisimova to book her last-four spot.