Elina Svitolina is into the semi-finals of the WTA Finals in Indian Wells. The Ukrainian beat Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in 1 hour 53 minutes on Friday, at her fourth match point, to finish second in Group 2 behind Mirra Andreeva and knock out the second seed.

Once again, Sabalenka looked fragile. Visibly angered by every missed chance, the Belarusian twice let a good start slip away, and lost her composure each time.

Two leads, two collapses

Sabalenka broke in the opening game and led 2-0, before Svitolina won six of the next seven games. At 3-3, the Belarusian missed two break points, then dropped her serve to love in the following game.

She seemed to have found her way back in the second set. After saving a 0-30 deficit in her first service game, she won four games in a row from 1-1, including a break from 0-40 down, to lead 5-1, and levelled the match at 6-3.

The same scenario played out in the decider. Sabalenka broke again in the opening game, but was broken straight back, and Svitolina reeled off five games in a row. At 1-2, the Belarusian held a game point before losing her serve on a third break point.

Serving for the match at 5-1, Svitolina saw Sabalenka save two match points with a forehand on the line. On the second, the Belarusian looked as if she had already accepted that her shot was going long. Svitolina finally converted her fourth match point with a forehand attack, finished at the net.

As she does with all Russian and Belarusian players since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Svitolina did not shake hands with Sabalenka at the end of the match.

Noskova next, Andreeva sure to be No. 2

Svitolina, the 2018 champion, will face Group 1 winner Linda Noskova in the second semi-final on Saturday. The first semi-final will pit Andreeva against Jessica Pegula.

Sabalenka’s elimination also settles the race for world No. 2. Already ahead of the Belarusian in the live rankings, Andreeva, unbeaten in the group stage, can no longer be caught and will move up to No. 2 on Monday.