Andreeva Blitzes Sabalenka in 62 Minutes to Reach WTA Finals Semis

Mirra Andreeva is through to the WTA Finals semi-finals at her first attempt. The world number three and French Open champion beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 6-0, wrapping it up in just 62 minutes with 16 winners and only six unforced errors. It was her second straight Group 2 win, and it came as group winner.

Sabalenka, the world number two and US Open runner-up, looked the sharper of the two early, breaking in the fourth game to lead 3-1. Andreeva answered with three games on the spin to level at 4-4, broke again and served out the set. She then pounced on Sabalenka's errors in the second, breaking early for 3-0 and never letting another game slip.

The 19-year-old was still buzzing afterwards. “I’m even happier than I was after my first match. I feel like I could play another two matches. I’m so full of energy. I’m so pumped up. I’m so happy,” she said.

Earlier, Elina Svitolina fought back from a set down to beat Karolina Muchova 3-6 6-2 6-2 — their third consecutive meeting to go the distance. Both had lost their openers in straight sets, and Muchova edged a tight first set before Svitolina lifted, breaking twice in the second and twice more in the decider.

The loss ends Muchova's semi-final hopes. Svitolina, the 2018 WTA Finals champion, meets Sabalenka on Friday with the last remaining place in the last four on the line. “It means the world to me (to be here). At the beginning of the year I tried to set a goal for myself to finish here... After pregnancy, surgery, injuries on the way, it wasn’t easy. I’m very pleased and really proud of the effort,” the 32-year-old said.