Aryna Sabalenka vs Amanda Anisimova Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Sabalenka backed to reach final in close contest

These two have developed quite a rivalry over the last couple of years, with nine of their 10 meetings coming at either WTA 1000s or Grand Slams. It doesn't get much bigger than this, with a place in the season-ending championships final up for grabs. Both players have impeccable records in semi-finals this season - Sabalenka has won eight of her 11 such outings, while Anisimova has gone 5-1, with her only miss coming via retirement in Charleston. Anisimova is trying to become the first debutant at the WTA Finals to beat both the No. 1 and No. 2 players after conquering Iga Swiatek in the group stage, while Sabalenka is continuing her pursuit of a first WTA Finals title and is the third No. 1 to reach three consecutive semi-finals at the year-end championships - and the first since Steffi Graf in 1990.

I'm backing Over 21.5 total games, which has landed in five of the last eight encounters between the pair. Not much separates these two, as we saw in their last two meetings at the US Open and Wimbledon. Anisimova's time will surely come over the next 12 months when it comes to slams and the biggest prizes, but I can't back against the World No. 1 in a high-pressure match. Sabalenka to edge it.

Anisimova leads 6-4 and is one of the few players to hold a sustained winning record over the World No. 1. However, Sabalenka has won two of the three clashes in 2025, including a most-recent 6-3 7-6 victory in the US Open final in September.

The top seed will now be looking to reach the final of the season-ending championships for the second time after back-to-back semi-final exits in 2023 and 2024.

Anisimova then confirmed her semi-final status with a brilliant victory over Iga Swiatek, once again coming from a set down to emerge victorious by a 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-2 score. Incredibly, Anisimova was the first player since 2022 to hit 40 winners in a WTA Finals match.