Aryna Sabalenka prepares for a rematch against Mirra Andreeva at the WTA Finals.

Aryna Sabalenka is determined to enter her upcoming match against Mirra Andreeva at the 2026 WTA Finals with a “rematch mentality.” The Belarusian player, currently ranked second, will face Andreeva, who holds the third position, in a round-robin match in Indian Wells scheduled for Wednesday.

In the first round of Group 2 at the WTA Finals, Sabalenka triumphed over Karolina Muchova with a score of 7-6(2), 7-5, while Andreeva dominated Elina Svitolina, winning 6-4, 6-0. This will be Andreeva’s first WTA Finals tournament, while Sabalenka is participating in the event for the sixth consecutive time. The Belarusian has a favorable head-to-head record, standing at 4-2 against Andreeva, but the last time they met was in the final of Indian Wells in 2025, where the young Russian emerged victorious in three sets.

After her victory over Muchova, Sabalenka was asked about the possibility of seeking revenge against Andreeva. The four-time Grand Slam champion responded, “Of course, always.” Referring to their previous duel, she said, “That match was incredible. She played amazing tennis in the final. I remember it was a lot of movement, a lot of running, and very good tennis. I’m looking forward to it and I’m going to approach that match with a rematch mentality.”

In an interview with the WTA, Sabalenka also commented on the challenge of facing Andreeva and Svitolina, who will be her opponent in the third round-robin match. “Yes, both are incredible players. I’ve had great matches against both of them. It’s been an amazing season for both, I must say,” said the 28-year-old Belarusian. “Mirra is a great server, an aggressive player. And Elena is, I would say, a smart player who moves very well and can be tricky, so it will be a great battle. I’m really looking forward to both matches.”

When asked about her preparation for the clash with Andreeva, Sabalenka revealed: “I will keep coming here to practice. We will definitely hit some balls, and for the rest of the day we will keep it calm and — not too relaxed — but we’ll just have fun and play some card games at home.” Sabalenka is seeking her first title at the WTA Finals after being the runner-up in the 2022 and 2025 editions.