INDIAN WELLS, California : Aryna Sabalenka remains optimistic about reaching the WTA Finals semi-finals despite suffering a 6-4 6-0 defeat by 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva on Wednesday, during which she lost 11 consecutive games.
The world number two squandered a 4-1 lead in the opening set before French Open champion Andreeva took control to secure victory and finish top of Group 2.
“She definitely played great tennis,” Sabalenka told reporters. “The good thing is that I still have a chance to qualify. The bad thing is that I’ll need some time to recover after I don’t even know how many games in a row I lost.”
Sabalenka, 28, made the stronger start, breaking Andreeva in the fourth game, but the teenager quickly turned the match around by capitalising on the Belarusian’s unforced errors.
“She’s not easy to play on any surface. It’s not only Indian Wells,” Sabalenka added. “She’s moving well, spinning the ball quite high, especially in these conditions.”
Sabalenka said she was determined to bounce back in her final group match against Elina Svitolina, who kept her own semi-final hopes alive with a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory over Karolina Muchova.
“Although things didn’t go well today, I’m still super motivated,” Sabalenka said.
