Sabalenka wins WTA Finals opener despite wayward serve

Sabalenka has had - by her high standards - a strange season.

For the first time since 2022 she has not won a Grand Slam singles title, having lost the Australian Open and US Open finals to Rybakina, and her last title came in Miami in March.

After winning just one of her three matches during the Asian swing, Sabalenka took a break before the season-ending finals.

She faced a tricky task against the crafty Muchova, who was the only player at the event to have a winning head-to-head against her.

The Czech also claimed the first break of the opening set - but, in a pattern that repeated throughout the match, Sabalenka broke straight back.