Aryna Sabalenka got off to a winning start at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, battling past Karolina Muchova 7-6 (7-2) 7-5 in the opening match in Group 2 on Monday.
A two-time beaten finalist in the WTA Finals – including going down last year to Elena Rybakina, who stole her No 1 ranking this season – Sabalenka is looking to win the tournament for the first time.
Rybakina’s late withdrawal due to a viral illness and fatigue aids Sabalenka’s hopes, as does her opening victory over Wimbledon finalist Muchova, who made her sweat for it in a hugely-absorbing contest that ran six minutes shy of two hours.
Image:
Aryna Sabalenka is looking to win the season-ending WTA Finals for the first time
Sabalenka was first to blink on serve in the first set, Muchova breaking for a 3-2 advantage, and again to lead 5-4, only for her opponent to break back immediately on both occasions – the second time when the Czech world No 7 was serving to take the opener.
Sabalenka then spurned a couple of set points in Muchova’s next service game, but dominated the resulting tiebreaker, dropping just two points.
The second set followed a similar pattern to the first, though it was Sabalenka this time who was twice pegged back from going a break to the good, before the four-time Grand Slam champion claimed the decisive break of serve to lead 6-5 before serving things out and clinching victory on her second match point.
World No 3 Mirra Andreeva, who won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open earlier this year, faces Elina Svitolina in Monday’s second match in Group 2.
Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports App. You can watch the WTA Finals from Indian Wells this week on Sky Sports Tennis.