Sabalenka overcomes Muchova to open WTA Finals with straight-sets win

Aryna Sabalenka began her WTA Finals campaign with a 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 victory over Karolina Muchova at Indian Wells on Monday, recovering from service breaks in both sets. The WTA reported that their Group 2 match lasted one hour and 53 minutes, with Sabalenka extending her run of opening-match victories at the season-ending tournament to five.

Watch the highlights:

Muchova twice moved a break ahead in the first set, at 3-2 and 5-4, but Sabalenka immediately recovered each time. The Czech then saved two set points before the tie-break. Sabalenka took control there, ending Muchova's unbeaten record in tie-breaks this season and bringing their head-to-head record level at three wins apiece, according to the WTA's match report.

The second set produced another series of changes in momentum. Sabalenka was broken when serving for the match at 5-4, but responded by breaking Muchova again and completed the victory on her next service game. The result was her 13th win at the WTA Finals, matching Mary Pierce's total for a player yet to win the title.

BBC Sport reported that Sabalenka's serve remained unreliable despite the straight-sets result. She finished with seven double faults and four aces, putting 59% of her first serves into play. When those first serves landed, however, she won 33 of 44 points. Speaking to Sky Sports, she attributed some of the difficulty to changing sunlight and shade, which affected her service toss.

The world number two is seeking her first Finals title on her sixth appearance. BBC Sport noted that she has not won a Grand Slam singles title this season, her first such year since 2022, after losing the Australian Open and US Open finals to Elena Rybakina. Her most recent tournament title came in Miami in March, and she took a break after winning only one match during the Asian swing.

In Monday's other group match, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva defeated Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0. According to BBC Sport, Andreeva won seven consecutive games and saved all six break points she faced during the 77-minute contest, including four in the final game.