Aryna Sabalenka won her Group 2 opener against Karolina Muchova 7-6 (7-2) 7-5, while Mirra Andreeva made light work of Elina Svitolina in a 6-4 6-0 triumph; watch the WTA Finals from Indian Wells this week, live on Sky Sports Tennis Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Aryna Sabalenka got off to a winning start at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, battling past Karolina Muchova 7-6 (7-2) 7-5, while Mirra Andreeva was also victorious in her Group 2 opener on Monday. A two-time beaten finalist in the WTA Finals – including going down last year to Elena Rybakina, who stole her No 1 ranking this season – Sabalenka is looking to win the tournament for the first time. Rybakina’s late withdrawal due to a viral illness and fatigue aids Sabalenka’s hopes, as does her opening victory over Wimbledon finalist Muchova, who made her sweat for it in a hugely-absorbing contest that ran six minutes shy of two hours. Sabalenka was first to blink on serve in the first set, Muchova breaking for a 3-2 advantage, and again to lead 5-4, only for her opponent to break back immediately on both occasions – the second time when the Czech world No 7 was serving to take the opener.
Sabalenka then spurned a couple of set points in Muchova’s next service game, but dominated the resulting tiebreaker, dropping just two points. The second set followed a similar pattern to the first, though it was Sabalenka this time who was twice pegged back from going a break to the good, before the four-time Grand Slam champion claimed the decisive break of serve to lead 6-5 before serving things out and clinching victory on her second match point. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player “It was a tough battle, it’s always tough matches against her,” Sabalenka told Sky Sports afterwards. “She’s such a high IQ player and every time you have to be focussed, ready for everything and have to play smart.
“I’m super happy I was able to start with a win.” World No 3 Andreeva, who won her first Grand Slam at the French Open earlier this year, enjoyed a much more routine win to start her tournament as she eased past Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-0. It was a near faultless performance from the 19-year-old as she wrapped up victory in 71 minutes. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player After saving a break point in her second service game, Svitolina couldn’t hold off Andreeva in her next as she earned three more at 0-40 – converting the first for a 3-2 advantage she would not relinquish. The second set was even more straightforward as Andreeva didn’t drop a single game against the world No 6, albeit she did have to stave off four break points when serving the match out.
Much attention is focused on Andreeva this week after Jessica Pegula labelled her a “diva” who “needs to be humbled” during a conversation with her coach that was picked up on a hot mic in a practice session at Indian Wells. The WTA apologised for failing to properly inform players about active microphones, with chair Valerie Camillo saying there was “a lack of advanced notice and clear signage” as she confirmed audio will now be switched off for practice sessions. Speaking to Sky Sports, Andreeva said she struggled on court despite the impressive nature of her opening win: “I don’t remember myself being so nervous on the court,” she said. “I felt like my legs were shaking.
It was extremely tough, so I’m super happy to get through the match. “My main goal today was to try to block out all of the thoughts and the emotions, force myself to move like supersonic, but it felt completely the opposite – I felt like an elephant.” Andreeva added: “After this match, after feeling so many nerves, I think it’s going to give me more confidence knowing I can get through.” Pegula is in Group 1, along with Coco Gauff, Linda Noskova and Martya Kostyuk, who all got their tournaments under way on Sunday, with Pegula beaten in her opening match against fellow American Gauff. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports App. You can
