Anisimova entered the match having won six of the previous 10 meetings, although they have met at each of the past three Grand Slams and Sabalenka took that particular head-to-head two wins to one.
She triumphed in straight sets in the fourth round of the French Open and the final of the US Open, while Anisimova was victorious in three sets in their Wimbledon semi-final.
Their semi-final in Riyadh promised a lot, and delivered results.
The first two matches lasted 18 minutes. Anisimova saved three break points to retain the opener, before Sabalenka fought back from 0-40 to do the same.
The match clock had just gone past an hour when Sabalenka finally took the first set.
Anisimova, who failed to win the opening set in all four of her matches on her WTA Finals debut, responded brilliantly to race into a 4-0 lead in the second and level the match.
In a tight decider, Sabalenka’s backhand return winner to settle the seventh game sealed a decisive service break, and there was a warm embrace between the two players at the net as Anisimova sent a forehand wide on match point.
“I told Amanda to be proud of her season. She has played fantastic tennis all season and this is just the beginning,” Sabalenka said.
“I know she’s probably disappointed, but she has a lot more things coming her way.”
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