Karolina Muchova believes Aryna Sabalenka has made big strides since their last meeting on the WTA Tour.

Muchova and Sabalenka have met five times throughout their careers so far, with the former boasting an impressive 3-2 record. They will now be reunited on court at the WTA Finals, having been drawn in the same group.

Ahead of that match, the Czech ace has spoken highly of her Belarusian rival, who won their only meeting in 2026 at Brisbane. Sabalenka beat Muchova 6-3, 6-4 in that semifinal clash in January before going on to lift the trophy.

Speaking to the media ahead of the WTA Finals, Muchova was asked why she thinks her game matches so well with that of Sabalenka, with not many players able to claim a winning head-to-head record against the former world number one.

She replied: “I think this year we only played once. It’s really tough to say because I think both of our games have developed, and we are different players now than we were even at the start of the season or the seasons before.

“What matches well? I feel probably the way that I change the game. I mean, rhythm-wise, some slicing. But I can also see she really improved that a lot, even when we practice, that she’s working on those parts, which is so nice to see. I think it’s going to be a different match because it’s been a while since we played together.”

Muchova and Sabalenka have been drawn in Group 2 for the WTA Finals, alongside Mirra Andreeva and Elina Svitolina. In Group 1, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Linda Noskova will battle it out for a place in the knockout stages.

Karolina Muchova issues fitness update for WTA Finals

Muchova has not been in action since the Wuhan Open in mid-October, where she lost just her second match of the event. At that stage of the season, the Czech star’s place at the WTA Finals was yet to be confirmed.

Now sharing her thoughts on her subsequent qualification for Indian Wells, as well as offering a fitness update, she said: “Yeah, it was definitely whatever happens happens for me. I felt at that moment that my energy… the season has been very long.

“I felt if I push it for another tournament, it would not do good to me. When I look back, I was like if I’m going to qualify, I’m going to be super happy. If I will not qualify, someone else deserves it.

“I had some gap there, so I just left it for the girls to play it out. Eventually it happened. I got some rest that I needed. Definitely more strength in me to play this tournament.”

It’s a welcome update from Muchova, who has played 53 matches throughout 2026 so far. She has won 41 of those, claiming two titles along the way in Bad Homburg and Doha. Currently seventh in the WTA rankings, she’ll start her WTA Finals run against Sabalenka.