World number two Aryna Sabalenka got her WTA Finals campaign off to a winning start with a hard-fought victory over Karolina Muchova, while Mirra Andreeva eased past Elina Svitolina as Group 2 action got underway on Monday.
Making her sixth consecutive appearance at the season-ending tournament, Sabalenka had to work hard to overcome a determined Muchova 7-6(2) 7-5, with the Czech making her debut at the event after a breakthrough season that included titles in Doha and Bad Homburg and a run to the Wimbledon final.
Sabalenka appeared to have gained control in the second set with a 4-2 lead, but the Czech refused to go away, breaking back when her opponent was serving for the match to level at 5-5.
I really tried not to think about the match we had last year on these courts,” Andreeva said of her 2025 Indian Wells win over Svitolina. “She’s such an incredible player. Always tough battles. I was just trying to stay calm and focus point by point. She can come back any time. “I remember how I was playing when I beat her here, but I knew it would be a tricky match. She’s an amazing player. I’m just very happy I was able to get through the match.”
You have to be focused from beginning till the end,” Sabalenka said on court.
“I was trying to think about was that she beat me in Australia earlier this year.
