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Sabalenka Downs Muchova to Win WTA Finals Opener

09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)
09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)
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Sabalenka Downs Muchova to Win WTA Finals Opener

09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)
09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)

Aryna Sabalenka battled past Karolina Muchova in straight sets to make a winning start at the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells on Monday.

Former world number one Sabalenka was forced to dig deep before finally prevailing 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in just under two hours.

Second-seeded Sabalenka is chasing her first ever WTA Finals victory after suffering defeats in the 2022 and 2025 finals.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus looked to be in trouble after conceding a break of serve to go 5-4 down in the opening set.

But she broke back immediately for 5-5 and subsequently went on to hold her nerve in the tie-break 7-2 to seize the early initiative.

Both players struggled on serve in the second set, with Sabalenka suffering her fourth break as she served for the match at 5-4 up.

Crucially though, Sabalenka responded to that stumble by breaking back immediately to lead 6-5 and she made no mistake when serving for the match again, wrapping up victory when Czech opponent Muchova netted a backhand.

"I'm just trying to win every match I play, and at the same time trying to stay in the moment and focus on my game on each point and trying to stay calm and in control," Sabalenka said afterward.

In Monday's other group game, WTA Finals debutant Mirra Andreeva motored past Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-0, despite overcoming pre-match tightness.

Third-seed Andreeva, the 19-year-old reigning French Open champion, took control with a break to open up a 4-2 first-set lead and never looked back against her sixth-seeded opponent.

She duly held serve to close out the first set, and then demolished Svitolina in the second set, rattling off three service breaks to wrap up victory.

"I was so tight, I felt I was moving like a turtle," the teenager said afterwards. "I felt like I couldn't really hit the ball so I'm just very happy to get through the match and control my emotions."

Andreeva will face Sabalenka in her second round robin game on Wednesday.

This year's WTA Finals were scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia but in July were moved to Indian Wells after US military strikes on Iran in February and the subsequent war in the region.

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Sports

Sabalenka Downs Muchova to Win WTA Finals Opener

09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)
09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)
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Sabalenka Downs Muchova to Win WTA Finals Opener

09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)
09 November 2026, US, Indian Wells: Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka in action against Czech's Karolina Muchova of Czechia during their ladies singles group stage match on day two of the FAGE WTA Finals tennis tournament at Indian Wells. (dpa)

Aryna Sabalenka battled past Karolina Muchova in straight sets to make a winning start at the season-ending WTA Finals in Indian Wells on Monday.

Former world number one Sabalenka was forced to dig deep before finally prevailing 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in just under two hours.

Second-seeded Sabalenka is chasing her first ever WTA Finals victory after suffering defeats in the 2022 and 2025 finals.

The four-time Grand Slam champion from Belarus looked to be in trouble after conceding a break of serve to go 5-4 down in the opening set.

But she broke back immediately for 5-5 and subsequently went on to hold her nerve in the tie-break 7-2 to seize the early initiative.

Both players struggled on serve in the second set, with Sabalenka suffering her fourth break as she served for the match at 5-4 up.

Crucially though, Sabalenka responded to that stumble by breaking back immediately to lead 6-5 and she made no mistake when serving for the match again, wrapping up victory when Czech opponent Muchova netted a backhand.

"I'm just trying to win every match I play, and at the same time trying to stay in the moment and focus on my game on each point and trying to stay calm and in control," Sabalenka said afterward.

In Monday's other group game, WTA Finals debutant Mirra Andreeva motored past Ukraine's Elina Svitolina in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-0, despite overcoming pre-match tightness.

Third-seed Andreeva, the 19-year-old reigning French Open champion, took control with a break to open up a 4-2 first-set lead and never looked back against her sixth-seeded opponent.

She duly held serve to close out the first set, and then demolished Svitolina in the second set, rattling off three service breaks to wrap up victory.

"I was so tight, I felt I was moving like a turtle," the teenager said afterwards. "I felt like I couldn't really hit the ball so I'm just very happy to get through the match and control my emotions."

Andreeva will face Sabalenka in her second round robin game on Wednesday.

This year's WTA Finals were scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia but in July were moved to Indian Wells after US military strikes on Iran in February and the subsequent war in the region.

Sports

PTPA Presses Player Fatigue Concerns after Rybakina's WTA Finals Withdrawal

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan practices prior to the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 05, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan practices prior to the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 05, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
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PTPA Presses Player Fatigue Concerns after Rybakina's WTA Finals Withdrawal

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan practices prior to the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 05, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan practices prior to the FAGE WTA Finals at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on November 05, 2026 in Indian Wells, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) ‌reiterated its criticism of the tennis schedule on Monday, saying world number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from the season-ending WTA Finals as "her body had nothing left to give".

Defending champion Rybakina said on Saturday she was not physically ready to compete at the tournament, with organizers citing a viral illness for the Kazakh's withdrawal.

Rybakina, who won two Grand Slam titles this year, also withdrew from the Tokyo quarter-finals last month because of a neck ‌injury.

"She finishes ‌2026 with two Grand Slam titles and ‌four ⁠titles overall. And ⁠still, by the season’s final event in November, her body had nothing left to give," the PTPA said in a post on social media.

"Players shouldn't reach the biggest event of the year running on empty. The PTPA continues to push for a season that leaves ⁠players healthy enough to finish it."

The WTA ‌Tour did not immediately respond ‌to a Reuters request for comment.

The elite women's tour has ‌previously said athlete welfare is a top priority and ‌that it has listened to players' views on the calendar.

Concerns over player workload are echoed on the men's ATP Tour, with American Taylor Fritz saying on Sunday that the sport's ‌brief off-season left players with little opportunity to recover.

"It's just so year-round, round-the-clock," he ⁠said ⁠on "The Running Interview Show". "We have a one-month off-season and, if you take that off-season off, you'd be showing up without practice at the beginning of the year.

"So, essentially, you can only really take, max, two weeks off, and then you have to be training. So we essentially get no time off ever. You are literally living out of a suitcase."

The ATP has said players retain choices over their schedules and that it is working to create incentives for an appropriate number of matches to be played during the season.

Sports

Three Things We Learned from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Max Verstappen of Red Bul celebrates his second place in the 2026 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 08 November 2026. (EPA)
Max Verstappen of Red Bul celebrates his second place in the 2026 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 08 November 2026. (EPA)
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Three Things We Learned from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Max Verstappen of Red Bul celebrates his second place in the 2026 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 08 November 2026. (EPA)
Max Verstappen of Red Bul celebrates his second place in the 2026 Formula One Grand Prix of Sao Paulo at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 08 November 2026. (EPA)

Lando Norris won the race and newly-crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli's Mercedes clinched the teams' title, but it was Max Verstappen who delivered the loudest message for 2027 and beyond.

In his in-laws' homeland, Red Bull's 29-year-old Dutchman delivered a now-familiar bravura drive from 21st on the grid to second behind McLaren's 26-year-old Briton and ahead of his team-mate Isack Hadjar.

After a tempestuous Interlagos race, AFP Sport looks at three things we learned from Sunday's dramatic Sao Paulo Grand Prix:

Relaxed Verstappen eyes fifth title

With his eighth consecutive podium and 10th in 11 outings, the four-time champion confirmed he is not only a man for all seasons, and circuits, but also that he and Red Bull will be the team to beat next year.

Confident in his car and team after a year of upheaval following the departure of Christian Horner, Verstappen is back to his best, if not in even better shape thanks to a settled family life and relaxed approach to his work.

During Saturday's 90-minute stoppage for rain in qualifying, he retreated to rescue some fun from what he called "a wasted day" as he knew that wherever he qualified he would start Sunday's race from the back of the grid.

So, while others studied computer screens and analyzed data, he watched English football on television.

"A lot of different games," he said.

"But Nottingham Forest and Manchester City was the last one before I got back into the car. It was 3-1 and, actually, I saw a great goal just before I climbed in."

It demonstrated how easily Verstappen glides from racer to normal bloke.

On Sunday, he gave his helmet to Ole Schack, the departing front-end mechanic for his car and a Red Bull lifer after 20 years. He had been busy as Verstappen had a new power unit fitted and took a penalty.

Speaking of Schack, who is returning to Denmark for a quieter life, Verstappen was succinct. "He's unbelievable."

In return, the mechanic said: "Max is an incredibly relaxed guy when he's not in the car. He enjoys a laugh and he's great to be around.

"He's like Ronaldo or Messi. But in an F1 car, he has that little bit extra that you simply cannot teach."

No longer the "Mad Max" of his early Red Bull years, this matured version is a master of his craft and ready for more success with a team-mate who offers serious support.

Norris signals McLaren can challenge

Norris was his usual self-effacing self after his 14th career win, signaling that McLaren's revised car was capable of fighting at the front again after an inconsistent season.

It was only his third win this year -- all since July -- after seven on the way to the drivers' title last year.

"It's certainly up there with the best I've had," he said before playing down the outgoing champion team's chances next year.

"The stats show we are generally a tenth or two off the top and the upgrades work. But it's still not enough."

If Oscar Piastri, who parted company with his manager Mark Webber on Monday, returns to his 2025 form, McLaren could go close to Mercedes and revitalized Red Bull next year, but Ferrari need a late-season boost to stay in touch.

Lawson shows character

Liam Lawson continued to punch above his and Racing Bulls' weight by finishing seventh after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was penalized five seconds for colliding with him -- to boost his hopes of retaining his seat.

Left in limbo by the Red Bull-owned team, Lawson has shown his likeable character with a run of five points-scoring finishes and sits ninth in the drivers' standings.

Yet Racing Bulls decline to give him a new contract.

Sometimes, the cheerful 24-year-old New Zealander recognized, F1 works in curious -- commercial or political -- ways.

"I'm just trying to enjoy driving the car because with everything else that is going on, I don't really know what else I'm meant to do."