Featured post

WTA Finals Day 5 Picks 2026 (Thursday 12th November)

There are going to be changes to the format for the WTA Finals next year, but if the reports are to be believed, it feels like a mistake is ...

Friday, 13 November 2026

WTA Finals Day 6 Picks 2026 (Friday 13th November)

Three of the four Semi Final spots have been wrapped up thanks to Jessica Pegula's battling win over Linda Noskova in the final Group match in Group 1 on Thursday.

Of course the WTA have to be pretty happy with the headlines that are going to be created when Pegula faces Mirra Andreeva in the Semi Final on Saturday, but the youngster has to complete her Group schedule before thinking about that match.

She will go out first against already eliminated Karolina Muchova, but the biggest match on the day is the second Group 2 match which is effectively a Quarter Final between Aryna Sabalenka and Elina Svitolina.

There is no love lost between those players, which will create added tension, and fans should be in for a fun day in Indian Wells.


Mirra Andreeva - 4.5 games v Karolina Muchova: A number of players entered the WTA Finals having produced little form since the US Open, but Mirra Andreeva was not one of those.

This has been backed up by two very impressive performances and she concludes this Group having already secured top spot.

Some may feel there is a temptation to not put in a great effort to win the match knowing the Semi Final is coming up on Saturday, but every player that enters a tournament is used to piling up the wins in their bid to win a title. This may be a unique format, but Mirra Andreeva should head out onto the court looking to continue her fine form, while the very limited time spent on court in the opening two wins means she should be feeling very healthy.

Karolina Muchova has not been at her best since Wimbledon where she reached the Final.

She has been limited by some injury concerns, but it has been a special season that is concluding on Friday and the Czech player would love to finish up with a win.

However, Muchova has not been playing at her best this week and two very tough losses will have sapped energy.

The World Number 7 has spent a lot more time on the court without any reward compared with Mirra Andreeva and the higher Ranked player may be able to win another match without dropping a set.


Aryna Sabalenka - 3.5 games v Elina Svitolina: There would have been plenty of tension around this final Group match in normal circumstances, but Elina Svitolina's continued stance to refuse to acknowledge those representing Belarus and Russia will always increase those tensions when facing one of those opponents.

Aryna Sabalenka has never stated anything but a refusal to endorse the ongoing war in Eastern Europe, but that has not been enough for the Ukrainian representatives to accept her presence on the Tour and that has inspired the former World Number 1.

This has to be the case on Friday, although Sabalenka has not been playing her best tennis here this week.

Losing eleven games in a row to Mirra Andreeva means Aryna Sabalenka has to win this match to earn her place in the Semi Final, but this is a player who has won the title in Indian Wells earlier this year and battled past Karolina Muchova.

Changes are going to be made in the off-season in her bid to get back to the top of the WTA Tour, but Aryna Sabalenka has enjoyed this match up with Elina Svitolina.

The latter fought back to upset Karolina Muchova a couple of days ago and that has kept her alive in the tournament, but Svitolina will know how Sabalenka felt as Mirra Andreeva moved through the gears in the second set in the opening Group match.

We have not seen Aryna Sabalenka serve as well as she can over the last month or so, but she has usually been able to use that shot to keep Elina Svitolina under the cosh. The current World Number 2 has also been able to use her power to push Svitolina back on the return of serve and Aryna Sabalenka may have one more big effort left in her in this tournament, although expecting her to win the title feels a long shot barring a big upturn in form.

MY PICKS: Mirra Andreeva - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Aryna Sabalenka - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

WTA Finals: 5-1, + 3.34 Units (8 Units Staked, + 41.75% Yield)

No comments:

Post a Comment