Andreeva stuns Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals semifinals

Mirra Andreeva produced a stunning comeback to defeat world number two Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 and secure her place in the WTA Finals semifinals. The 62-minute victory at Indian Wells saw the teenager win the final eleven games of the match, claiming 45 of the last 55 points.

Andreeva erased a 4-1 first-set deficit in spectacular fashion. Sabalenka had started strongly, breaking serve in the fourth game to establish her double-break lead. Andreeva then reeled off three consecutive games to level at 4-4, broke Sabalenka once more, and served out the opening set. She capitalized on a stream of errors from her opponent to break early in the second, racing to a 3-0 lead as Sabalenka failed to win another game.

Sabalenka's collapse

Sabalenka, who completed the Sunshine Double by winning Indian Wells earlier this year, could not sustain her strong start. Andreeva revealed she used anger as fuel after losing her serve with a double fault at 4-1. "I will be honest, I feel like Aryna did not have the best day," Andreeva said. Sabalenka, who has won six of the pair's seven previous meetings, struggled to explain the momentum shift, conceding Andreeva played great tennis.

Svitolina's rally keeps semifinal hopes alive

Elina Svitolina kept her tournament alive with a gritty three-set win over Karolina Muchova. The 32-year-old Ukrainian, who lost her opening group match to Andreeva 6-4, 6-0, recovered to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Svitolina raised her level from the second set, breaking serve twice to force a decider and carried that momentum with two more breaks in the final set. The victory ended Muchova's semifinal hopes and set up a winner-takes-all match against Sabalenka for the remaining spot. "I was really angry at myself after the first match and the first set," Svitolina said.

Historic milestone for Andreeva

Andreeva's victory seals top spot in Group 2 and marks a historic milestone. She becomes the youngest player to reach the WTA Finals semifinals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009. Since the round-robin format was introduced in 2003, Andreeva is only the fifth teenager to achieve this feat, joining an elite group:

Andreeva will await her semifinal opponent after topping her group. The final last-four place will be decided when Elina Svitolina faces Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.