Amanda Anisimova v Elena Rybakina result - Rybakina stuns debutant Anisimova to take victory on opening day at WTA Finals

Elena Rybakina is not making any last-minute plays here at the WTA Finals as she took a decisive victory over Amanda Anisimova 6-3 6-1 on the opening day in Riyadh.

She completed her win in 57 minutes to put herself ahead in the Serena Williams Group alongside Iga Swiatek, who beat Madison Keys earlier in the day.

It was Anisimova's debut at the WTA Finals, and nerves seemed apparent from the beginning. She racked up 30 unforced errors across the match against Rybakina's 18.

She struggled to find her rhythm against Rybakina, losing serve in the first game to start the match on the wrong foot.

Rybakina opened with ease in the second set as Anisimova continued to spiral, with her stellar serving carrying her through. She hit seven aces across the hour, five in the second set alone, to cement her victory.

Anisimova has work to do against Swiatek and Keys, while Rybakina will seek her first semi-final in her third WTA Finals appearance.

A stellar cross-court shot from Anisimova is answered by yet another two aces by Rybakina. It is all but over at 15-40, and the American's return goes long.

Elena Rybakina takes her first win of this year's WTA Finals and her 54th of this season, and caps off a disappointing debut for Amanda Anisimova. But she isn't going home just yet, and she will be racking her head to see what she can pull out against Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys this week.

Rybakina is directing all of the play, sending Anisimova off the court before playing a defenseless cross shot . Anismova's shots are all sailing long through the air and Rybakina breaks!

You wouldn't think the margin of unforced errors were close between the two players, Anisimova has 25 to Rybakina's 17. But Anisimova's errors seem to come at crucial times, while Rybakina's play continues to look fluid despite them.

Rybakina's deep and fast returns are causing all sorts of problems for Anisimova. The frown on her face is evident but she digs deep and pulls out a brilliant second serve ace to make it 40-30.

But another uncharaceristic error sees her shot go long, and it is deuce.

Anisimova takes her first game in this second set as Rybakina goes wide.

She just keeps them coming! Rybakina with another ace, the frustration is coming through clearly for Anisimova as she can't keep the unforced errors under control.

Rybakina's precise backhand is doing her wonders, Anisimova has to hold serve if she wants to stay in it. Rybakina's shot cross-court sees a challenge from Anisimova, but it is in by the slightest margin.

She continues to stay aggressive and is completely stumping Anisimova right now.

Rybakina opens aggressively, she knows she's got the serve and Anisimova is firmly on the back foot. Two consecutive aces ties up the first game in four minutes.

Anisimova double-faults, then returns into the net to give Rybakina the set. A decent last push from her in the last game but Rybakina had the rhythm from the start.

The American will need to clean up her unforced errors as Rybakina looks comfortable on court.

Anisimova can't quite seem to find her stride against Rybakina, she whacks her racket into the floor after yet another return into the net. She can hold serve but without a break, the pressure is on her.

She sends a strong backhand down the line, then a great return on Rybakina's serve sees the Kazakh send her shot into the net and make it deuce from 30-0 down.

Rybakina serves a beautiful ace to take away advantage from Anisimova, then an ace and a ball into the net sees Rybakina take the game.

First ace from Anisimova as applause rings out from the crowd. She's hunting for a quick service game to turn the tide. A couple of mistakes into the net, but she makes the crucial hold with another good serve.

Still some errors from Anisimova while Rybakina looks comfortable. The Kazakh is playing some mega serves with both speed and positioning, and it is working fantastically for her tonight.

Beautiful tennis from Rybakina, she plays it flat down the line then sends her next shot cross court for the point.

But Anisimova is determined to hold serve, and she presses Rybakina hard with her last serve forcing Rybakina's return off court.

Great serve from Rybakina again as Anisimova has to reach for it, the ball goes high and comes down before the net.

Rybakina is has full control of the court, she sends a great strike over the high side of the net right on the line and Anisimova could only stare at it from afar.

A turn for the better for the American as Rybakina's returns go out of bounds. 40-0 for Anisimova on the brink of holding serve.

A 192km ace from Rybakina gets her to 30-0, then a good serve sees Anisimova's sloppy return out of bounds.

Anisimova goes just wide on another shot to end the set, perhaps early nerves?

Rybakina comes out early on the scoring, then a beauty of a return to make it break point. She sends a second ball into the net, but a tough double fault from Anisimova seals the first game and break.

We're off! Anisimova serves first.

Iga Swiatek just beat Madison Keys 6-1 6-2 to place herself in an early lead among the four players. We'll see who between Anisimova and Rybakina will join her tonight with a win.

The players are warming up now for their first ever head-to-head.

The floodlights are back on as Anisimova and Rybakina come to the net for the toss. Anisimova chooses to serve first as we prepare to get underway.