Mirra Andreeva overturned a 1-4 first-set deficit to beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on November 11 local time. She won the final 11 games of the 62-minute match and 45 of the last 55 points. Two straight-set victories secured first place in Group 2 and her first singles semifinal at the event.
From a double fault to a change in momentum
Sabalenka broke first for 3-1 and extended her advantage to 4-1. Andreeva said afterwards that she was angry about losing serve with a double fault on break point and unhappy as her opponent struck a succession of winners.
She channelled that emotion into trying to serve faster and believed it subsequently helped her return better. From 1-4, she won 12 consecutive points to level at 4-4, then took two more games. Three successive aces closed out a 6-4 opening set.
Andreeva carried the run through the second set without conceding a game. She won every point behind her first serve and lost only two points on her own serve in that set, completing a 6-0 finish.
Two straight-set wins secure a semifinal place
Andreeva had also beaten Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in her opening group match. She became the first player in tournament history to win a 6-0 set in each of her first two matches at the WTA Finals, and the youngest singles semifinalist at the event since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009.
It was her first meeting with Sabalenka in 605 days, following the 2025 Indian Wells final in which Andreeva recovered from a set down to win. She rated this latest performance eight out of ten, describing it as solid and reserving a ten for the best match of her life.
Sabalenka praised her opponent and remains in contention for the other semifinal berth. She faces Svitolina, also 1-1 in the group, on Friday local time, having won six of their seven previous meetings. Andreeva completes her group against Karolina Muchova, with a 1-0 tour-level head-to-head record entering that match.
