Sabalenka downs Muchova to win WTA Finals opener
Former world No 1 Aryna Sabalenka was forced to dig deep before finally prevailing 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in just under two hours.
Aryna Sabalenka secured a commanding 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 victory over Karolina Muchova in the opening match of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells on Monday, marking her first triumph in the season-ending tournament. The Belarusian four-time Grand Slam champion, who had previously lost in the finals in 2022 and 2025, battled back from a 5-4 deficit in the first set and held her nerve through a tight tie-break to seize the early advantage.
Despite Sabalenka's fourth break point in the second set, she broke back immediately and capitalized on Muchova's backhand to clinch the match. Sabalenka and Muchova's group two clash was the first of two matches played on Monday, with third-seeded Mirra Andreeva set to face Elina Svitolina later in the day. Originally slated for Saudi Arabia, this year's WTA Finals were relocated to Indian Wells following US military strikes on Iran in February and the ensuing regional conflict.
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