Mirra Andreeva Shrugs Off Nerves to Sweep Elina Svitolina at WTA Finals

Mirra Andreeva admitted she was unhappy with her tennis at first, but still produced a commanding win over Elina Svitolina at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells. The 19-year-old Russian defeated the Ukrainian 6-4, 6-0 in just 71 minutes to open her group-stage campaign. Andreeva said nerves made it difficult to find her rhythm early in the match. “I was tense; I felt like I was moving like a turtle,” she said after the win, according to the report. She added that she could not hit the ball the way she wanted, and was therefore pleased to have secured the result while keeping her emotions under control. The French Open champion, ranked third in the world, is due to face Aryna Sabalenka in her next group match. Sabalenka also began with a victory, edging Karolina Muchova 7-6 (2), 7-5 after a contest lasting close to two hours. The report says the season-ending tournament was moved from Saudi Arabia to Indian Wells in July amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. Andreeva’s brisk win gives her an encouraging start at the relocated event, even if she felt her performance took time to settle.