INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Elina Svitolina triumphed over Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to secure her spot in the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Friday, ultimately clinching the match on her fourth match point.
Both competitors struggled with errors, tallying more mistakes than winners. Svitolina recorded 21 winners but also racked up 24 errors, converting six out of eight break points in her victory over Sabalenka, marking her first win against Sabalenka in six years and only her second in their eight encounters.
“She provided me with several opportunities to find my rhythm,” Svitolina remarked. A past champion of the Finals in 2018 and a finalist in 2019, she returned this year after a hiatus from qualification.
In doubles action, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski teamed up with Brazil’s Luisa Stefani to outplay Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko and Taiwan’s Su-Wei Hsieh, winning 2-6, 7-6 (2), 10-3. The top-seeded duo improved their round-robin record to 2-0.
Sabalenka, the runner-up from last year’s Finals, rallied to win the second set and gained an early break in the third. However, she faltered with 35 errors, visibly frustrated as she communicated with herself and expressed her discontent. She opted not to speak to the media following the match.
Next, Svitolina will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the semifinals on Saturday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Four years ago, Svitolina embraced motherhood, fueling her drive.
“I want my daughter to witness me winning tournaments,” she shared.
Mirra Andreeva dominated Diana Shnaider, winning 6-2, 6-1, as she claimed 12 of the last 13 games. She will compete against Jessica Pegula in the other semifinal after finishing Group 2 with an impressive 3-0 record, conceding only 11 games throughout.
Shnaider stepped in as a late replacement for Karolina Muchova, who withdrew due to gastrointestinal issues. This was Shnaider’s WTA Finals singles debut after qualifying for doubles last year with Andreeva, although they did not win any matches.
Leading 2-0 in the first set, Shnaider quickly lost control as Andreeva seized command and closed out the match in just 55 minutes. Andreeva won a striking 71% of her first-serve points and converted six out of seven break points, while Shnaider incurred 32 errors in her only match, having spent the week in practice uncertain of her role.
“I can’t say it was the most enjoyable experience,” Andreeva commented. “It’s nice to share the court with a friend, but it’s also nerve-wracking for me since I know her well.”
The 19-year-old Andreeva, reigning French Open champion, required just over an hour to win her first two matches, despite the wind picking up dramatically on Friday under clear skies.
“The court was a bit chaotic,” she admitted.
Muchova, a finalist at Wimbledon this year, had already lost her initial two matches and wouldn’t have progressed to the semifinals even if she had been fit to compete.
She becomes the second withdrawal from the prestigious $10 million event, following top-ranked Elena Rybakina’s exit before the tournament commenced, citing a viral illness and fatigue.
