Sabalenka and Andreeva to meet at WTA Finals on Wednesday
The second-seeded Belarusian and the teenage French Open champion both won their opening matches at Indian Wells.
Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva will face each other in the WTA Finals on Wednesday after straight-set wins on Monday at Indian Wells. Sportstar reported the season-ending event moved to Indian Wells from Saudi Arabia.
Key takeaways
- Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5 at Indian Wells
- Andreeva beat Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in her WTA Finals debut
- Andreeva will face Sabalenka in their second round-robin match on Wednesday
- This year’s WTA Finals were moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells
Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva will meet on Wednesday at the WTA Finals after both won their opening matches on Monday at Indian Wells. Sportstar reported that Sabalenka defeated Karolina Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5 in just under two hours, while Andreeva beat Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in her WTA Finals debut.
Sabalenka's comeback against Muchova
Sabalenka battled past Muchova to make a winning start at the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells on Monday. The second-seeded Belarusian conceded a break to go 5-4 down in the opening set but broke back immediately for 5-5 and won the tie-break 7-2.
Both players struggled on serve in the second set, with Sabalenka suffering her fourth break while serving for the match at 5-4 up. She broke back immediately to lead 6-5 and wrapped up victory when Muchova netted a backhand. "
Andreeva's straight-sets win
In Monday’s other group game, WTA Finals debutant Mirra Andreeva motored past Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-0 despite overcoming pre-match tightness.
The third-seeded 19-year-old reigning French Open champion took control with a break to open up a 4-2 first-set lead and never looked back against her sixth-seeded opponent.
She held serve to close out the first set, then rattled off three service breaks in the second set to wrap up victory. Andreeva said afterwards: "I was so tight, I felt I was moving like a turtle. "
Context and what happens next
Sabalenka is chasing her first ever WTA Finals victory after suffering defeats in the 2022 and 2025 finals. The four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus has won 24 career singles titles, including four majors, as well as eleven WTA 1000 events.
She has been ranked world number one in singles and doubles by the WTA and finished as year-end number one twice. She has also won six doubles titles, including the 2019 US Open and 2021 Australian Open, both with Elise Mertens.
Andreeva is the third seed and a WTA Finals debutant. This year’s WTA Finals were scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia but in July were moved to Indian Wells after US military strikes on Iran in February and the subsequent war in the region.
Andreeva will face Sabalenka in her second round-robin game on Wednesday.
Monday WTA Finals opening results
Player | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|
Aryna Sabalenka | Karolina Muchova | 7-6(2), 7-5 |
Mirra Andreeva | Elina Svitolina | 6-4, 6-0 |
Related on Apex Sports News
Sources
Topics
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or use the flag button above. Our editorial standards explain how we report.
Discussion
Sign in or create a free account to join the discussion. Please follow our community guidelines.