Svitolina stuns Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals last four

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Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina beat world number two Aryna Sabalenka in a rollercoaster three sets on Friday to punch her ticket to the WTA Finals last four, where she'll face…

Ukrainian veteran Elina Svitolina beat world number two Aryna Sabalenka in a rollercoaster three sets on Friday to punch her ticket to the WTA Finals last four, where she'll face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

Broken to start the third set, sixth-ranked Svitolina stormed home, winning six straight games to triumph 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

She claimed just her second career victory in eight meetings with the Belarusian star, whose first-serve struggles and 35 unforced errors proved too much to overcome.

The match concluded round robin play in the elite season-ending event. Earlier Friday, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva capped an unbeaten run through the group stage with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Diana Shnaider.

It was a lackluster end to a disappointing season for Sabalenka. She won three tournaments, including the prestigious "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami in March.

But she finished the year without a Grand Slam title, losing in the finals of both the Australian and US Opens, and lost her world number one ranking to Elena Rybakina.

After an error-strewn first set Sabalenka steadied in the second, racing to a 5-1 lead. Broken as she served for the set Sabalenka held on to force the third and looked on the ascendant when she broke again for a 1-0 lead.

But the errors were piling up again, and Svitolina took advantage. Sabalenka saved three match points in the final game, Svitolina twice responding with an ace before sealing the win with an emphatic forehand winner.

"It was an extremely tough match, especially mentally," said Svitolina, who continues her campaign for a second WTA Finals crown to go with the one she won in 2018.

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