Svitolina beats Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals semis
Elina Svitolina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at the WTA Finals to reach the last four.
Elina Svitolina beat Aryna Sabalenka in three sets to reach the WTA Finals semifinals. Mirra Andreeva also advanced after beating Diana Shnaider.
Key takeaways
- Elina Svitolina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 at the WTA Finals.
- It was Svitolina's second win in eight career meetings with Sabalenka.
- Mirra Andreeva beat Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 to win Group 2 with a 3-0 record.
- Svitolina will face Linda Noskova in the semifinals on Saturday.
- Andreeva will play Jessica Pegula in the other semifinal.
Elina Svitolina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals on Friday, winning on her fourth match point. The match concluded round robin play at the elite season-ending event. The Ukrainian veteran claimed just her second career victory in eight meetings with the Belarusian star, whose first-serve struggles and 35 unforced errors proved too much to overcome.
Why it matters
Svitolina won the WTA Finals in 2018 and was runner-up in 2019 before failing to qualify again until this year. She is chasing a second WTA Finals crown.
Sabalenka was runner-up at last year's Finals and finished the season without a Grand Slam title after losing in the Australian and US Open finals.
Sabalenka won three tournaments, including the Indian Wells and Miami titles in March, but lost her world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina.
What happens next
Svitolina will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the semifinals Saturday at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mirra Andreeva will play Jessica Pegula in the other semifinal after beating Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1. Andreeva capped an unbeaten run through the group stage with the victory and dropped just 11 games total in winning Group 2 with a 3-0 record.
By the numbers
Svitolina hit 21 winners, made 24 errors and won six of eight break points. Andreeva won 71% of her first-serve points and converted six of seven break points, while Shnaider committed 32 errors.
WTA Finals context
The WTA Finals is an eight-day, $10 million season-ending event. Top-ranked Elena Rybakina withdrew before the tournament began last Sunday, citing a viral illness and exhaustion. Karolina Muchova withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness after losing her first two matches, and Shnaider entered as a late replacement.
WTA Finals singles results
Match | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
Svitolina v Sabalenka | Svitolina | 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 |
Andreeva v Shnaider | Andreeva | 6-2, 6-1 |
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