Andreeva “Very, Very Curious” About Sabalenka Match at WTA Finals
Mirra Andreeva, seeded third, says she is "very, very curious" to face Aryna Sabalenka in the WTA Finals group stage at Indian Wells. Sabalenka leads their series 4-2, but Andreeva won their last meeting, the 2025 Indian Wells final.
Mirra Andreeva, the third seed at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, will face Aryna Sabalenka in the group stage, and the Russian says she is "very, very curious" about the match. Sabalenka leads their head-to-head 4-2.
Andreeva has been drawn in a tough group alongside Sabalenka, Karolina Muchova and Elina Svitolina. She plays Svitolina first.
Sabalenka and Andreeva have not yet played each other at this tournament. They will meet later in the week for the seventh time on the WTA circuit.
Both players were scheduled to open their Finals campaigns on Monday. Sabalenka was due to play Wimbledon finalist Muchova at 12pm local time, with Andreeva and Svitolina following.
Rematch of the 2025 final
The pair last met on these courts. Andreeva beat Sabalenka, then the world number one, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the 2025 Indian Wells final.
Sabalenka won the earlier meetings: the 2023 Madrid Open, the 2024 Madrid Open, the 2025 Brisbane International and the 2025 Australian Open.
Andreeva said the draw did not worry her. "Honestly, I didn't actually know who I want to see in my group because I know no matter who will be there I'm going to really have to bring the best tennis I have," she said in a podcast interview.
She then singled out Sabalenka. "I am very, very curious to see how I am going to play against Aryna because we played last year the final of Indian Wells on these courts," Andreeva said. She added that she wants to see how both players have changed.
First, though, she plans to concentrate on the matches before it. "But that is the match that I think I am looking forward to," she said.
Off-court noise settled
Andreeva was caught up in controversy last week after American Jessica Pegula made pointed remarks about her and her coach, Conchita Martinez. The teenager and Pegula now appear to have moved past it and are focused on the tournament.
A Russian has not won the year-end event in more than 20 years. Maria Sharapova took the title as a teenager in 2004, beating Serena Williams 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 after trailing 0-4 in the final set and winning six straight games.
"Oh my gosh, I'm still shaking, I can't believe it," Sharapova said after the final.
