Svitolina stays in WTA Finals hunt after remarkable fightback sees off Muchova

Ukrainian wins 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 after eight-minute timeout

‘I tried to direct this anger towards the ball’

Elina Svitolina staged a remarkable comeback to beat Karolina Muchova and remain in the hunt for the WTA Finals title.

The Ukrainian looked to be on her way out of Indian Wells when she was a set down and required an eight-minute medical timeout. But she recovered to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and stay in with a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Svitolina, who was demolished 6-4, 6-0 by Mirra Andreeva in her opening round-robin match, told Sky Sports: “It was not an easy task to do.

“I was pretty angry at myself, after the first match and after the first set also. Things didn’t go my way, so I tried to direct this anger towards the ball and found my game in the end.

“I think the level was back in the third set. I just tried to give it all in this match because I know I would be eliminated if I lost. So I just tried to really release all this energy and find these openings against Karolina. She’s such a tough opponent.

“It’s the last tournament of the season, so I just have to really put my head down and deal with all the small injuries.

“I mean, it’s normal that everyone is tired. Everyone is struggling with something here and there. I will just try to do my best, have an ice bath and try to heal as much as possible in the next 48 hours.”