Mirra Andreeva and Elina Svitolina will meet in the FAGE WTA Finals championship match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden after both players secured straight-set victories in their respective semifinals on Saturday.
Andreeva chases title while rising to world No. 2
- Andreeva enters the title match with a flawless tournament record, having failed to drop a single set all week.
- Svitolina reaches her third title match at the year-end event, chasing her second tournament crown.
- Andreeva is guaranteed to rise to world No. 2 in the WTA rankings on Monday regardless of Sunday’s outcome.
How Andreeva reached the final
Mirra Andreeva advanced to the championship match by defeating Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, WTA Tennis reported. Jessica Pegula led 3-1 in the second set, but Andreeva won five of the last six games to close out the match.
The 19-year-old has conceded just 18 games in four matches this week, according to The Guardian. That run includes a 6-4, 6-0 win over top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the group stage.
The final is set 🙌 Elina Svitolina vs. Mirra Andreeva on #TheUltimateStage!#FAGEWTAFinals pic.twitter.com/7pnkolG0y4
“I did not feel one bit of pressure today, I don’t why,” Andreeva told Sky Sports.
The semifinal meeting followed an earlier controversy in Indian Wells. Pegula was overheard on a hot microphone during a livestreamed practice session calling Andreeva a “diva” who “needs to be humbled,” NewsCord reported. Both players later laughed off the incident after Pegula apologized to Andreeva, according to The Guardian.
Simply remarkable 👊 Elina Svitolina is a finalist once against at the WTA Finals!#FAGEWTAFinals | #TheUltimateStage pic.twitter.com/RAPxQnGvm8
How Svitolina booked her rematch
Elina Svitolina advanced by defeating Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-1 in the second semifinal, WTA Tennis reported. Svitolina broke Noskova three times in the opening set and raced out to a 5-0 lead in the second.
Svitolina needed three sets in each of her previous two matches to reach Saturday. She will now attempt to win the WTA Finals for a second time after first lifting the trophy in 2018, as reported by The Guardian.
Sunday’s match is a rematch of their group-stage encounter, which Andreeva won 6-4, 6-0.
| Player | Semifinal Result | Tournament Record | Previous WTA Finals Titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mirra Andreeva | Def. Jessica Pegula 6-3, 6-4 | 4-0 (0 sets lost) | 0 |
| Elina Svitolina | Def. Linda Noskova 6-2, 6-1 | 3-1 | 1 (2018) |
What happened with Sabalenka
Aryna Sabalenka issued a public apology on Saturday after being accused of making offensive remarks toward Svitolina during their Friday match, The Guardian reported. Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina will both be defending a large number of ranking points at the Australian Open next season following Rybakina’s victory in this year’s final.
Elina Svitolina is heading to the WTA Finals championship! 👏 pic.twitter.com/n3K5t9nzzW
FAGE WTA Finals championship matches will simulcast for free on Tennis Channel 2.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
WTA Finals championship is set: Elina Svitolina vs. Mirra Andreeva! 😁 pic.twitter.com/d2RO63wFba
