Mirra Andreeva beats Aryna Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals semi-finals

Mirra Andreeva defeated Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals. The win sends her into the semi-finals of the season-ending event. Both The Japan Times and BBC Sport report the result. Andreeva is the reigning French Open champion.

The match

According to BBC Sport, Andreeva won 6-4 6-0. She trailed 4-1 in the opening set. She then won 11 games in a row, BBC Sport reported.

Serving for the first set at 15-30, Andreeva hit three consecutive aces to take it, according to BBC Sport. The outlet said she hit 16 winners and six unforced errors.

Sabalenka, the world number two and second seed, hit 23 unforced errors, according to BBC Sport. After leading by a double break, she won only 10 more points. She played with taping on her knee. BBC Sport said the taping did not appear to hinder her. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the nature or seriousness of any knee issue. They also do not include a comment from Sabalenka.

What comes next

According to BBC Sport, Andreeva, 19, advances as the group winner. The winner of Friday's final group match between Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina will also reach the semi-finals.

The Japan Times reported that Andreeva has won three titles this year. It said she is making her singles debut at the event. BBC Sport noted that Sabalenka has won four major singles titles. This year, she lost deciding sets 6-0 at the French Open and the Berlin Open, the outlet said.

In the same group, Svitolina beat Karolina Muchova 3-6 6-2 6-2, according to BBC Sport. She won after taking a medical timeout for a right hip injury. Muchova hit 39 unforced errors. Svitolina had lost her first group match to Andreeva on Monday. The reports do not describe Svitolina's fitness ahead of Friday's match.

What each side says

Andreeva told Sky Sports that Sabalenka had not played her best, according to BBC Sport. "I will be honest, I feel like Aryna did not have the best day," she said. "I feel like I cannot really take all the credit today - I feel like that is not very fair in some ways."

She added: "I'm just happy. I had a goal in front of me to commit no matter what and control the things I can control."

Svitolina also spoke to Sky Sports, according to BBC Sport. "I was really angry at myself after the first match and the first set," she said. "I tried to direct my anger towards the ball and I found my game in the end."

Analysis

The result confirms Andreeva, 19, as a contender at her first WTA Finals in singles. Her own comments suggest she sees the margin as partly due to Sabalenka's level on the day. For Sabalenka, Friday's match against Svitolina now decides whether she continues. Both players showed physical signs: Sabalenka played with knee taping, though BBC Sport said it did not appear to hinder her, and Svitolina needed treatment on her right hip. The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not explain either issue. Either player could reach the semi-finals. Their condition and form on Friday may matter more than earlier results.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.