Aryna Sabalenka Opens WTA Finals Account With Hard-Fought Win, Sets Up Mirra Andreeva Showdown

Aryna Sabalenka got her campaign at the 2026 WTA Finals back on track with a hard-fought victory over Karolina Muchova, winning 7-6 (2), 7-5 in a contest that tested her patience and composure. The world No. 2 took 1 hour and 53 minutes to overcome the Czech player and register her first win of the season-ending tournament.

The victory was particularly important for Sabalenka, who had to negotiate two closely fought sets against an opponent with a winning head-to-head record against the four-time Grand Slam champion.

Muchova, making her WTA Finals debut, started strongly and twice moved ahead by a break in the opening set. However, Sabalenka responded on both occasions before taking control of the tie-break, which she won 7-2.

The second set proved equally competitive, with five service breaks and several momentum shifts. Sabalenka appeared to be closing in on victory at 5-3, but Muchova fought back to level the score at 5-5. The Belarusian then produced a crucial forehand winner to break Muchova's serve and move ahead 6-5 before closing out the match.

"I was just trying to stay calm," Sabalenka said after the match, emphasising the need to remain focused against an opponent capable of turning the contest around.

Sabalenka will now face Mirra Andreeva, who also began her WTA Finals campaign with an impressive victory. The 19-year-old French Open champion defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in her tournament debut, avenging her loss to the Ukrainian at the Australian Open.

Andreeva was particularly impressive on serve, saving all six break points she faced to complete a dominant straight-set victory.

Meanwhile, Sabalenka's season has been a mixed one despite her strong performances. She will finish 2026 without a Grand Slam title for the first time since 2022 and is no longer in contention for the year-end world No. 1 ranking, even after rival Elena Rybakina withdrew from the tournament due to a viral illness.

However, the Belarusian still has an opportunity to achieve a major milestone by winning her first WTA Finals title. She has finished runner-up twice, in 2022 and 2025, and will be eager to go one step further this time.