Sabalenka overcomes Muchova in WTA Finals opener
Aryna Sabalenka battled back from a break down in both sets to defeat Karolina Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5 in her WTA Finals opener.
Aryna Sabalenka won her WTA Finals opener 7-6(2), 7-5 against Karolina Muchova. The world number two fought back from a break down in both sets to secure the victory.
The match featured five breaks of serve in the second set alone. Sabalenka ultimately served out the match on her second attempt. She faced the only player in the tournament with a winning head-to-head record against her.
Andreeva dominates Svitolina in quick win
Mirra Andreeva delivered a commanding performance on day two. She defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in under an hour.
Andreeva saved all six break points she faced during the 77-minute match. She hit nine winners to 12 unforced errors in a controlled display.
Sabalenka's serve inconsistency and emotional control
Sabalenka's victory came despite significant serve struggles. She produced seven double faults and landed only 59% of her first serves.
Her serving statistics for the match were as follows:
| Statistic | Figure |
|---|---|
| Double Faults | 7 |
| Aces | 4 |
| First Serve Accuracy | 59% |
| Points Won Behind Serve | 33 of 44 |
Her serve was inconsistent throughout. Sabalenka managed to rein in her emotions and improve her forehand as the match progressed. She saved two set points in the first set before forcing a tiebreak, which she won after two forehand errors from Muchova.
"It was a bit tricky with the sun [and] with the shade," Sabalenka said. She added, "Sometimes I had to adjust my toss, sometimes I had to serve blind, but it's all part of the game."
Sabalenka is bidding to win the WTA Finals title for the first time in her sixth consecutive appearance. She is now the favourite after world number one Elena Rybakina withdrew on the eve of the competition.
The Belarusian has not won a Grand Slam singles title in 2024, losing the Australian Open and US Open finals to Rybakina. Her last title came at the WTA 1000 tournament in Miami in March, part of the 'Sunshine Double' she claimed with a win at Indian Wells. She has not won a title since.
The top two players from each of the two groups will advance to the semi-finals. Sabalenka's next match in the group stage will be critical to that goal.
