Svitolina races into WTA Finals showpiece against Andreeva

Elina Svitolina dropped just three games as she thrashed Linda Noskova to set up a WTA Finals showpiece against Mirra Andreeva.

Ukraine's Svitolina was composed and aggressive in a 6-2 6-1 victory over Wimbledon champion Noskova in just 64 minutes.

It caps a remarkable turnaround for world number six Svitolina in Indian Wells, having suffered a heavy defeat in her opening group match against Andreeva.

However, she has shown all of her fighting spirit to win her next three matches, including snapping a six-match losing streak to Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.

Svitolina now has 11 wins over top-10 opponents this year - the most of any player on the WTA Tour.

"After losing the first match I was ready to go home, and now I'm in the final," the 32-year-old said.

"I will do my homework with my coaches - I will try to win a bit more games than I did in the first match [against Andreeva]."

Svitolina is back in the world's top 10 for the first time since October 2021.

She took maternity leave in May 2022 to have daughter Skai, and has made an effort to play more aggressive tennis since her return.

She returned brilliantly against Noskova, neutralising the Czech's big serve from the first game.

Noskova was well below her best, hitting 11 double faults and committing 27 unforced errors to Svitolina's 18.

It is the third time Svitolina has reached the final of the season-ending tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2018.

Earlier, Andreeva became the youngest player for 22 years to reach the WTA Finals showpiece with a composed victory over Jessica Pegula.

French Open champion Andreeva came back from a break down in both sets to win 6-3 6-4.

The 19-year-old Russian is the youngest finalist at the season-ending event since Maria Sharapova, who was 17 when she won the title in 2004.

Victory over American Pegula ensures Andreeva will finish the year as world number two.

"I did not feel one bit of pressure today, I don't know why," Andreeva told Sky Sports.

"Usually I feel like on these important points or when I have to close out the match or the set I get so tight.

"But for some reason today I was just playing. I was just not thinking about anything, just trying to enjoy."

Tournament debutant Andreeva has yet to drop a set and has not lost more than four games in any of her eight sets.

The 18 games she has lost is the fewest for a finalist at the WTA Finals since the round-robin format was introduced in 2003.

Under the guidance of coach Conchita Martinez, Andreeva has developed her serve into a real weapon.

She won 77% of points behind her first serve and hit 17 winners to outmuscle Pegula.

Andreeva also showed impressive composure, remaining unfazed despite going an early break down in both sets against the home favourite.

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