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.
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.
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