Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova 7-6 (2), 7-5 in Indian Wells, California, on Monday to record her first win at the 2026 WTA Finals. The former world No. 1 came through two close sets in 1 hour, 53 minutes, and she will next face No. 3 seed Mirra Andreeva.
“I was just trying to stay calm,” said Sabalenka, who won the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March. “She can come back at any time and you have to be focused from the beginning to the end.”
Sabalenka closes in on a first season-ending title
The No. 2-ranked Sabalenka will finish the season without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022. She is also out of contention for the WTA year-end No. 1 ranking, despite the withdrawal of rival Elena Rybakina from the WTA Finals with a viral illness. However, the 28-year-old can still claim her first season-ending title after two runner-up finishes, in 2022 and 2025.
Sabalenka opened Group 2 round-robin play against Muchova, the only player in the eight-woman field with a winning head-to-head record against the four-time Grand Slam champion. Muchova, who is making her WTA Finals debut, twice led by a break in the opening set. Sabalenka broke back both times.
The second set was tighter still, featuring five service breaks. Muchova fought back from 5-3 down to level at 5-5. Sabalenka responded with a forehand winner to break for 6-5 and close out the match.
Andreeva wins with a dominant second set
Andreeva followed Sabalenka into the winner’s circle with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Elina Svitolina in her own WTA Finals debut. The 19-year-old French Open champion avenged her Australian Open defeat to Svitolina, the 2018 WTA Finals champion. Andreeva saved all six break points she faced across the two sets.