A comeback secures first place
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini defeated Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez 3–6, 6–2, [10–7] at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on November 10 local time. The 89-minute victory lifted the Italians to 2–0 in doubles Group 2 and secured first place with one match remaining.
They now lead this particular head-to-head by two wins to one. In their third WTA Finals appearance together, Errani and Paolini have advanced beyond the group stage for the first time.
They had already beaten Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in Sunday’s opener.
Two 1–1 teams will contest the remaining place
Earlier the same day, Townsend and Siniakova beat Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs 7–6(2), 6–3 in 98 minutes. They took the opening tiebreak 7–2. The result brought the second seeds to 1–1 and kept their semifinal hopes alive.
Townsend and Siniakova have won all three meetings with Perez and Schuurs this season in straight sets. After reaching the final in 2024 and the semifinals in 2025, they can still make the last four for a third consecutive year.
On November 12 local time, they will face Bucsa and Melichar-Martinez, who also have a 1–1 record. The winner takes the group’s other semifinal berth. Perez and Schuurs have been eliminated after two defeats.
