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Andreeva Dominates Sabalenka at WTA Finals
Confirmed
In Short: Russian 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva secured a dominant victory over Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals, winning 11 consecutive games to seal a 6-4, 6-0 triumph.
Mirra Andreeva Orange Bowl 12s final 2019-December 12.
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Mirra Andreeva | 2026 FAGE WTA Finals Group 2 | WTA Highlights. WTA
Andreeva's performance was a stark contrast to Sabalenka's struggles. Sabalenka, the world number two and US Open runner-up, started strong but could not maintain her form.
Andreeva held her nerve after falling behind 4-1 in the opening set, winning the last 11 games to clinch the match in just 62 minutes.
Sabalenka, trailing 0-40, saved three break points but Andreeva capitalized on her opportunities, breaking Sabalenka with a swinging volley winner.
Andreeva responded to her initial setback by flipping the switch, handling Sabalenka's powerful serves and pushing her back with her own groundstrokes.
Sabalenka's increasingly demoralized state left her with no answer as Andreeva's game improved. Andreeva's victory was a testament to her resilience and skill.
Andreeva expressed her joy and energy after the match, saying, "Oh my God, I'm even happier than I was after my first match." She added, "I feel like I can play another two matches, I'm so full of energy. I'm so pumped up. I'm so happy."
Sabalenka acknowledged her poor performance, stating, "I will be honest, I feel like Aryna did not have the best day."
Andreeva's win secured her place in the semifinals of the WTA Finals, while Sabalenka's loss eliminated her from contention.
Elina Svitolina also secured a comeback victory over Karolina Muchova, keeping her title hopes alive, setting up a crucial match against Sabalenka for the remaining semifinal spot.
What this adds
Sabalenka's season included prestigious back-to-back victories at Indian Wells and Miami, but she failed to win any Grand Slams.
Andreeva's victory was her second straight Group 2 match win, advancing as the group winner.
Background
Aryna Sabalenka secured a hard-fought victory over Karolina Muchova in her WTA Finals opener.
What's confirmed
- Andreeva's performance was a stark contrast to Sabalenka's struggles. Sabalenka, the world number two and US Open runner-up, started strong but could not maintain her form.
- Andreeva held her nerve after falling behind 4-1 in the opening set, winning the last 11 games to clinch the match in just 62 minutes.
- Sabalenka, trailing 0-40, saved three break points but Andreeva capitalized on her opportunities, breaking Sabalenka with a swinging volley winner.
- Andreeva responded to her initial setback by flipping the switch, handling Sabalenka's powerful serves and pushing her back with her own groundstrokes.
- Sabalenka's increasingly demoralized state left her with no answer as Andreeva's game improved. Andreeva's victory was a testament to her resilience and skill.
- Andreeva's win secured her place in the semifinals of the WTA Finals, while Sabalenka's loss eliminated her from contention.
- Elina Svitolina also secured a comeback victory over Karolina Muchova, keeping her title hopes alive, setting up a crucial match against Sabalenka for the remaining semifinal spot.
What's still developing
- It was another disappointing performance for the 28-year-old Sabalenka, whose three wins this season include prestigious back-to-back victories at Indian Wells and Miami but no Grand Slams.
- Irked that she had given up a break with a double fault, she was able to flip the switch, dealing handily with Sabalenka's big serves and pushing the Belarusian star back with her own big groundstrokes.
- The Russian maintained the momentum in the second set, capitalizing on Sabalenka’s errors to break early and race into a 3-0 lead.
- Andreeva, the 19-year-old French Open champion, won her second straight Group 2 match and advanced as group winner after Svitolina earlier defeated Muchova 3-6 6-2 6-2.
- She used loopy high balls to initially wrong-foot Sabalenka and then showcased her easy power, hitting 16 winners to only six unforced errors and creating brilliant angles from the baseline.
- From having a double-break lead, Sabalenka only won a further 10 points in the match as Andreeva dominated.
- Sabalenka lost deciding sets at the French Open and Berlin Open by a 6-0 scoreline this year, but this was a much quicker unravelling than those matches.
- "I tried to direct my anger towards the ball and I found my game in the end."
- 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.
- “I was trying to think about was that she beat me in Australia earlier this year. 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.
- The Belarusian, who is seeking her first WTA Finals crown, had to dig deep in the opening set, breaking back when Muchova served for it at 5-4 before dominating the ensuing tiebreak to take the lead after almost an hour.
- Svitolina, who beat Andreeva at the Australian Open, struggled to find answers this time around, failing to convert any of the six break points she earned.