Svitolina stuns Sabalenka to reach semis in WTA Finals
Elina Svitolina countered Aryana Sabalenka’s power, breaking the Belarusian’s serve six times before smashing a short ball on match point to secure her first win over Sabalenka in more than six years.
Ukrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina upset Belarusian rival Aryna Sabalenka in a three-set match at the WTA Finals, advancing to the semifinals. Svitolina, who has a long-standing policy of not shaking hands with players from Russia and Belarus due to the invasion of her country, edged out Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 1-6. The Ukrainian athlete dominated Sabalenka's powerful game, breaking her serve six times and closed out the match with a powerful shot on match point.
Svitolina, the 2018 WTA Finals champion, will face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova in the semifinals on Saturday in a match that could secure her a spot in the final. Meanwhile, Sabalenka, who had won the Sunshine Double earlier in the season by winning both Indian Wells and the Miami Open, suffered a disappointing end to her campaign after losing her world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina.
In another match, tournament debutant Mirra Andreeva continued her winning streak, defeating fellow Russian Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1, and will face American Jessica Pegula in the semifinals on Saturday.
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- Svitolina stuns Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals semis freemalaysiatoday.com
- Elina Svitolina names key condition to defeat Aryna Sabalenka in must-win WTA Finals group clash english.nv.ua
- Svitolina stuns Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals semis channelnewsasia.com
