Andreeva holds the cards to become world No. 2 as Muchova pulls out of WTA Finals and Shnaider steps in
Mirra Andreeva will be world No. 2 on Monday: she beat alternate Diana Shnaider, who replaced an ill Karolina Muchova, and Aryna Sabalenka was then knocked out of the WTA Finals by Elina Svitolina.
Mirra Andreeva, WTA Finals | © JESPER ZERMAN/BILDBYRÅN/Shutterstock/SIPA
Mirra Andreeva will be world No. 2 on Monday. The 19-year-old Russian beat Diana Shnaider 6-2, 6-1 on Friday to complete a perfect group stage at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells, taking her to 6,906 points in the live rankings, 221 ahead of Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian, knocked out by Elina Svitolina later in the evening, can no longer catch her.
Shnaider, the second alternate, had stepped in a few hours earlier after Karolina Muchova withdrew. “Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from today’s match due to gastrointestinal issues,” the Czech said.
No effect on the semi-final race
Muchova, who lost to Sabalenka and Svitolina, was already eliminated, and Andreeva had already clinched first place in Group 2 with straight-sets wins over Svitolina and Sabalenka. She will face Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals on Saturday, while Svitolina, who beat Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 for the second spot, will play Linda Noskova.
| Rank | Player | Country | W-L | Sets | Games |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Mirra Andreeva[3] 
|
|
3-0 | 6-0 | 36-11 |
| 2 |
Elina Svitolina[6]
|
|
2-1 | 4-4 | 34-32 |
| Semi-finals | |||||
| 3 |
Aryna Sabalenka[2]
|
|
1-2 | 3-4 | 28-38 |
| 4 |
Karolina Muchova[7]
Withdrew before her last match
|
|
0-2 | 1-4 | 21-29 |
| Alternate | |||||
| 5 |
Diana Shnaider[10]
Second alternate
|
|
0-1 | 0-2 | 3-12 |
Muchova ends her season with a 41-14 record, titles in Doha and Bad Homburg and a first Wimbledon final, which she lost to Linda Noskova.
$230,000 for Shnaider
Shnaider made her WTA Finals debut against her compatriot and doubles partner, who now leads their head-to-head 3-0. Her one match earns her $230,000, on top of the $100,000 she receives as an alternate.
