Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova 7-6(2), 7-5 in one hour and 53 minutes in their Group 2 opener at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 9 local time. Her fifth consecutive opening victory at the WTA Finals levelled their head-to-head at 3-3. She had to recover from two first-set breaks and a failed attempt to serve out the match.
Immediate replies kept the first set close
Muchova entered with a 3-2 advantage in their rivalry and an unbeaten tiebreak record this season. She broke for 3-2 and again for 5-4 in the opening set, but Sabalenka broke back in the next game on both occasions. Muchova could not consolidate either lead with a hold.
Muchova then saved two set points during a four-point run to reach a tiebreak. Sabalenka regained control and won it 7-2, ending Muchova’s unbeaten sequence. The WTA reported that Sabalenka’s 13 tiebreak wins lead the tour this season. She attributed her execution to concentrating on each point and shot.
A second opportunity to serve it out
Three successive breaks in the second set left Sabalenka ahead. Serving at 5-4, she lost the game when a forehand went long. She broke again in the next game, which included an inside-out forehand that Muchova could not reach, then held at the second attempt to finish the match.
Sabalenka is now 11-0 at the WTA Finals after winning the first set. Her 13 victories at the tournament match Mary Pierce’s total, the most by a player yet to win the title.
Muchova qualified in 2023 but withdrew with a wrist injury, making this her tournament debut at 30.
Andreeva next in the round robin
Sabalenka next faces Mirra Andreeva, who beat Elina Svitolina in her opener. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 4-2, but Andreeva won their most recent meeting in the Indian Wells final.
