Aryna Sabalenka’s season concluded on Friday after a disappointing exit from the WTA Finals in Indian Wells. The world number two fell to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in a group-stage encounter that ended 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, preventing the Belarusian from advancing to the tournament semifinals.
Svitolina effectively countered Sabalenka's power throughout the match, breaking her opponent’s serve six times. The Ukrainian secured the victory with a forehand winner on her fourth match point, marking her first win against Sabalenka in over six years. Following the match, Svitolina maintained her established policy of not shaking hands with players from Russia and Belarus, a stance she has held since the invasion of Ukraine.
Following the match, Svitolina told reporters that the game was a "roller-coaster." She noted that while she struggled with her rhythm after a strong start, she was pleased with her comeback in the final set. Sabalenka, who had entered the tournament as a favorite following the pre-tournament withdrawal of Elena Rybakina, declined to speak with the media after her loss.
Elsewhere in the tournament, Mirra Andreeva continued her winning streak by defeating Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1. Shnaider had stepped in as a replacement for Karolina Muchova, who withdrew due to a gastrointestinal illness. Andreeva had already qualified for the semifinals prior to this match and is set to face American Jessica Pegula on Saturday.
Key facts
- The final score of the Svitolina-Sabalenka match was 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.
- Elina Svitolina will face Linda Noskova in the semifinals on Saturday.
- Mirra Andreeva reached the semifinals after three consecutive straight-sets victories.
- Sabalenka's 2026 title wins include the Brisbane International, Indian Wells, and the Miami Open.
- The $10 million tournament is being held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Why it matters
The defeat marks the end of Sabalenka’s 2026 season. After securing the "Sunshine Double" in March, the world number two failed to claim another title for the remainder of the year and previously lost her world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina at the US Open.
Background
The eight-day tournament was relocated from Riyadh to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden due to the United States-Israeli war on Iran. Organizers have announced that the event will move to Charlotte starting next year.
Source: Al Jazeera
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