Andreeva stuns Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 to reach first WTA Finals semifinal
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Mirra Andreeva produced a stunning comeback at the WTA Finals on 12 November 2026, erasing a 4-1 first-set deficit to defeat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 in just 62 minutes, booking her place in the WTA Finals semifinals for the first time in her career.
A Historic Comeback
Andreeva's recovery was nothing short of extraordinary. After falling behind 4-1 in the opening set, she won the final 11 consecutive games and claimed 45 of the last 55 points to complete one of the most commanding turnarounds in recent WTA Finals history. The win made her the youngest player to reach the WTA Finals semifinals since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009 — and only the fifth teenager to achieve the feat since the current round-robin format was introduced in 2003, joining Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Wozniacki, and Coco Gauff.
Record-Breaking Run at the Tournament
Andreeva's campaign at the WTA Finals has already rewritten the record books. Having beaten Elina Svitolina 6-4, 6-0 in her opening round-robin match, she became the first player in tournament history to win a 6-0 set in each of her first two WTA Finals matches. It is also the third time in her career that she has claimed multiple Top 10 wins at a single event, following similar runs at Dubai and Indian Wells in 2025 — both of which she went on to win.
Semifinal Picture Takes Shape
Andreeva, who entered the WTA Finals with just one Top 10 win to her name in 2026, now has three for the week. Her next opponent in the semifinals will be Karolina Muchova, against whom she holds a 1-0 head-to-head record on the WTA Tour. Meanwhile, Muchova has been eliminated from semifinal contention after falling to 0-2 at the competition.
Sabalenka Still Alive; Svitolina Beats Muchova
Despite the heavy defeat, Sabalenka has not been knocked out. She and Elina Svitolina will contest the second semifinal berth in Friday's group stage finale. Svitolina kept her hopes alive with a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback win over Muchova earlier on Wednesday — her 11th victory at the WTA Finals overall and her first at the event since 2019. Svitolina is now a formidable 6-1 at the WTA Finals in three-set matches.
What Comes Next
The attention now turns to Friday's decisive group match between Sabalenka and Svitolina, with a place in the semifinals at stake. Andreeva, meanwhile, will look to extend her remarkable run against Muchova and potentially add a third Top 10 scalp of the week — a feat that could cement her status as the tournament's breakout star of 2026.