Sportsupdated 23m ago2 min read
Archive photo · 14 March 2023Elina Svitolina Beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to Reach WTA Finals Semifinals
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Svitolina defeated Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the WTA Finals semifinals. It was Svitolina's first win over Sabalenka in six years, securing final semifinal spot.
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Svitolina ends Sabalenka run
Elina Svitolina beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 to reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, Calif., winning on her fourth match point. Svitolina recovered from an early break in the opening set, then took the first set 6-3 before Sabalenka responded to take the second set 3-6.
Svitolina then won the final set 6-1 after breaking twice to take a 5-1 lead and closing it out on her fourth match point. Mirra Andreeva also advanced, winning 12 of the final 13 games to beat Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 and setting up a semifinal against Jessica Pegula.
Quotes and match details
Svitolina told reporters, "It was an extremely tough match, I think especially mentally," and she added, "I was just trying to play one point at a time" during the comeback. Sabalenka did not speak to the media afterward, and ESPN said she "didn't speak to the media afterward" after the loss.
ESPN reported that Svitolina hit 21 winners, made 24 errors, and won six of eight break points, while Sabalenka rallied to take the second set and was up an early break in the third. The Kansas City Star said Svitolina finished with 21 winners and committed 11 fewer unforced errors in the one-hour, 53-minute match, and it described the result as snapping Svitolina's five-match losing streak against Sabalenka.
Semifinals set for Saturday
Svitolina will face Linda Noskova in the semifinals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, after Noskova was identified as the opponent in the next round. ESPN said Svitolina will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskovain the semifinals Saturday at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, and it also set the other semifinal as Mirra Andreeva against Jessica Pegula.
“‘Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from today's match due to gastrointestinal issues,’ Muchova said in a statement.”
The match also ended Sabalenka's WTA Finals campaign, and ESPN said Sabalenka was runner-up at last year's finals while Svitolina reached the semifinals for the first time since 2019. In the other group match, Karolina Muchova withdrew with a gastrointestinal illness, and Shnaider entered as a late replacement, with the Kansas City Star quoting Muchova: "Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from today's match due to gastrointestinal issues."