Sabalenka and Andreeva open WTA Finals campaigns with straight-sets wins

AI-generated illustration.

Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva won their opening Group 2 matches at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on Monday, 9 November. Sabalenka defeated Karolina Muchova 7–6(2), 7–5, before Andreeva beat Elina Svitolina 6–4, 6–0.

Sabalenka needed one hour and 53 minutes to overcome Muchova, who was playing her first match at the season-ending tournament. The Czech twice took a break advantage in the opening set, at 3–2 and 5–4, but Sabalenka immediately recovered each time.

Muchova saved two set points to reach the tie-break, where Sabalenka took control and won 7–2. The second set remained close: Muchova broke when Sabalenka served for the match at 5–4, only for the Belarusian to break again and finish at the second attempt.

The result gave Sabalenka a fifth successive opening win at the Finals. This is her sixth consecutive appearance at the event, where she is still seeking a first title.

Andreeva’s singles debut at the Finals lasted 70 minutes. The 19-year-old won the last seven games against Svitolina and did not lose serve, saving all six break points she faced. Four of those chances came in the final game.

A double fault from Svitolina handed Andreeva the opening set’s only break for a 3–2 lead. She then took the second set without conceding a game, reversing their Australian Open result earlier this year against the 2018 Finals champion.

The two winners now meet in their next group match. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 4–2, although Andreeva won the most recent encounter, in the 2025 Indian Wells final. Both began this year’s Finals group stage with a 1–0 record.