Elina Switolina beats Aryna Sabalenko in WTA Finals group stage

Ukraine's Elina Switolina beat top seed Aryna Sabalenko 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 on Friday 13 November 2026. The match was part of the third round of the group stage at the WTA Finals. It was Sabalenko's second successive defeat at the tournament.

Sabalenko was the favourite to win the title after Jelena Rybakina withdrew. She opened the tournament with a win over Karolina Muchova, then lost to Mirra Andreeva. Before the final group match she still had a chance of reaching the semi-finals, but she had to beat Switolina, who was also fighting for a place in the top four.

Match summary

Switolina won the first set 6-3. Sabalenko made several errors in a row at 3-4, and Switolina took her first chance to break.

Sabalenko played much more solidly in the second set and won it 6-3. After a break, she began hitting harder from the baseline and broke her opponent's serve.

The deciding set produced the most drama. Switolina led 5-1 and had match points. Sabalenko saved three of them, and Switolina converted the fourth to win. In the third set Switolina won six games in a row.

What happens next

Switolina advances to the semi-finals, where she will face Linda Noskova. Sabalenko will lose second place in the WTA rankings to Mirra Andreeva. If Jessica Pegula wins the tournament, Sabalenko could drop to fourth.