The latest chapter between Iga Swiatek and Amanda Anisimova carried echoes of their Grand Slam meetings earlier this season. Swiatek had hammered Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to lift her first Wimbledon crown in July, but the American exacted payback at the US Open quarter-finals in September.

The match opened with serve dominating — a run of 12 consecutive holds set a tight tone. The first set was decided in a tiebreak, which Swiatek captured when Anisimova’s forehand drifted long.

Anisimova then lifted her intensity in the second set, earning a decisive break in the 10th game to push the contest to a third set at the King Saud University Sports Arena. She struck again to move 3-1 ahead in the decider, putting the pressure on world number two Swiatek. The 24-year-old held her nerve to complete an impressive comeback.

“My mom kept telling me, ‘you’ve won so many three-set matches this year — you’re strong, you can do it,’” Anisimova said. “Playing Iga today was incredibly tough but I was having fun… I told myself to go for it.”

Earlier on the court, Elena Rybakina extended her strong form with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova. Madison Keys withdrew because of illness and Mirra Andreeva was declared unfit to play. Rybakina — who had already recorded wins against both Anisimova and Swiatek at the event — weathered pressure from a lively Alexandrova, broke in the ninth game to snatch the opening set, then tightened her serving and shot-making to close out the match in two sets.

World number one Aryna Sabalenka is set to meet Coco Gauff on Thursday, both still in contention for a semi-final berth from the Steffi Graf group. Jessica Pegula, meanwhile, can improve her own chances when she faces the already-eliminated Jasmine Paolini.