Sabalenka ends season with 2-1 loss to Svitolina at WTA Finals
Elina Svitolina beat Sabalenka 2-1 (6:3, 3:6, 6:1) and advances to face Linda Noskova in the semifinals.
Aryna Sabalenka ended her season on a low note after a 2-1 defeat (6:3, 3:6, 6:1) to Elina Svitolina at the WTA Finals, a loss that allowed the Ukrainian to secure a place in the tournament's knockout stage.
How the match unfolded
Svitolina took the opening set 6:3, Sabalenka struck back to take the second 6:3, but the decider turned one-sided. Sabalenka managed an early break and moved 1-0 ahead in the final set, then Svitolina won every remaining game to close out a convincing victory.
The Belarusian star showed visible frustration during the match, repeatedly venting at her racket and at times sitting motionless at courtside as the momentum slipped away.
With the win, Svitolina advances to the WTA Finals semifinals where she will face Linda Noskova.
Sabalenka's season had high points — she collected three titles — but fell short on the biggest stages, losing in the finals of both the Australian Open and the US Open. After 99 weeks, Elena Rybakina returned to the top spot in the world rankings, a change that Sabalenka could not prevent.
Despite the disappointing finish, Sabalenka has shown remarkable consistency at the majors: in her last 16 Grand Slam appearances she has reached the semifinals 13 times, a record that underlines her place among tennis's elite even as she seeks the next step forward.
Photo: US Open Tviter
