Elina Svitolina Stuns Aryna Sabalenka at WTA Finals to Reach Semifinals
Elina Svitolina ended a six-year losing streak against Aryna Sabalenka with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 victory at the WTA Finals, securing a spot in the semifinals.
🧠AI AnalysisPhoto: The Athletic
Key points
- Svitolina defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the semifinals.
- The win ended a six-match losing streak against Sabalenka dating back six years.
- Sabalenka finishes the year ranked No. 3 globally behind Mirra Andreeva.
In Indian Wells, California, Elina Svitolina notched her first victory over Aryna Sabalenka in six years, securing a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 triumph in the final round-robin match of the WTA Finals. The Ukrainian claimed the final six games of the match to advance to the semifinals of the prestigious women's tennis event in her first appearance since 2019.
Sabalenka initially seized momentum by taking the second set and breaking Svitolina in the opening game of the decider. However, Svitolina's aggressive approach and Sabalenka's erratic play turned the tide. Despite saving four match points, Sabalenka ultimately faltered on a crucial forehand error, sealing her elimination and dropping her to No. 3 in the world rankings behind Mirra Andreeva.
Semifinal Matchups
With the round-robin stage concluded, Svitolina advances to face Wimbledon champion Linda Nosková in the semifinals. The other semifinal pairing features 19-year-old French Open champion Mirra Andreeva going up against American player Jessica Pegula.
Source The Athletic — nytimes.com/athletic/7780263/2026/11/13/svitolina-sabalenka-wta-fin… ↗
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