Elina Svitolina defeats Aryna Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals semi-finals

Elina Svitolina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 on November 13, 2026, to reach the WTA Finals semi-finals in Indian Wells. The match took place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. This victory marks the first time Svitolina has reached the semi-finals of the WTA Finals since 2019.

Match details and performance

The match lasted 1 hour and 52 minutes. Svitolina achieved her victory by breaking the serve of Sabalenka six times during the contest. Svitolina described the match as a bit of a roller-coaster. The Ukrainian tennis player stated that she was happy with her third-set comeback after losing rhythm in the second set.

Sabalenka, the second seed, entered the match with significant recent success. The Belarusian tennis player previously won the Brisbane International in January 2026 and achieved the Sunshine Double by winning both the Indian Wells and Miami Open tournaments in March 2026. Despite her recent successes, Sabalenka lost the world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina at the US Open.

This win improved the career head-to-head record of Svitolina against Sabalenka to 2-6. This result also marks the first time in six years that Svitolina has secured a victory over Sabalenka.

Tournament semi-final matchups

The tournament schedule for November 14, 2026, includes a semi-final match between Elina Svitolina and Linda Noskova. The Czech tennis player, Linda Noskova, will face the Ukrainian player in the next round of the competition.

The second semi-final match features Mirra Andreeva against Jessica Pegula. Mirra Andreeva secured her spot in the semi-finals by defeating Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-2, 6-1. The tournament also saw the withdrawal of Karolina Muchova, who left the event due to gastrointestinal issues.

Player conduct and context

Following the conclusion of the match, Svitolina did not shake hands with Sabalenka. Svitolina maintains a policy of not shaking hands with Russian and Belarusian players following the invasion of Ukraine. This stance remains a consistent part of the Ukrainian tennis player's professional conduct during international competitions.

The tournament landscape has been affected by several withdrawals. While Elena Rybakina withdrew from the tournament on the eve of the event due to illness, other players continued to compete in the high-stakes environment of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The semi-final stage will determine which players advance toward the final championship match.

Glossary

• WTA Finals — The WTA Finals is a year-end tournament for an exclusive circle of eight participants. The total prize money is calculated from the sum of the prize money for the matches won.
• Indian Wells Tennis Garden — The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a tennis venue that hosts annual junior and adult USTA tournaments. It features a main stadium with 16,100 seats, eleven competition courts, six practice courts, and two clay courts.
• Sunshine Double — The Sunshine Double is achieved by winning both the Indian Wells and Miami Open tournaments.
• Miami Open — The Miami Open is a tournament that has been held in various years, including 1937, 1939, 1946, 1950, 1951, and 1955.