INDIAN WELLS, California (The Thursday Times) — Elina Svitolina knocked Aryna Sabalenka out of the WTA Finals on Friday, winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals in Indian Wells.
The Ukrainian, 32, won the last six games of the match and took it on her fourth match point. It was her first win over Sabalenka in six years, and only her second in eight meetings.
Svitolina hit 21 winners against 24 unforced errors and converted six of her eight break points. Sabalenka made 35 errors and had led by an early break in the deciding set before the match turned.
“It was an extremely tough match, especially mentally. I was just trying to play one point at a time,” Svitolina said. “She gave me a few chances here and there so I could find my shots.”
Svitolina, the 2018 champion and 2019 runner-up, returned to the top 10 this season. She finished second in her group behind Mirra Andreeva and will face Czech world No 8 Linda Noskova in the semi-finals on Saturday.
Andreeva unbeaten
Andreeva finished the group stage with three wins from three by beating Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1, and will play Jessica Pegula in the other semi-final. Shnaider had replaced Karolina Muchova, who withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness.
Sabalenka’s season ends
Sabalenka, who did not speak to the media after the match, ends a season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022. She lost the Australian Open and US Open finals but won three titles, including Indian Wells and Miami, and finished with a 47-11 record, a win rate of 81%.
She lost the world No 1 ranking to Elena Rybakina after the US Open, ending a 99-week run at the top. Two days before Friday’s defeat, she lost the last 11 games of her match against Andreeva.
The final is on Sunday.
