INDIAN WELLS, California (The Thursday Times) — Mirra Andreeva won the WTA Finals title on Sunday, beating Elina Svitolina 7-5, 6-3 in the final at Indian Wells. The 19-year-old French Open champion did not drop a set in five matches all week.
A tight first set
Andreeva took the first set 7-5 and then won the second 6-3. Svitolina, who is 32 and won the title in 2018, was playing in her third WTA Finals final in three appearances.
An unbeaten week
Andreeva beat Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in the opening group match, then beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 and Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1. She beat Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 in the semi-final. She rises to world No 2 on Monday, and at 19 she is the youngest champion since Maria Sharapova won at 17 in 2004.
Svitolina lost that opening match, then won her next three, including a three-set win over Sabalenka, before beating Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-1 in the semi-final. Earlier: Svitolina to face Andreeva for the title.
