By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Photo credit: Tony Chang/Chang Photography
Down a set, Elina Svitolina was staring up at the sky taking medical treatment for a right leg issue.
Flat on her back, Svitolina arose to play tenacious tennis and turn the match around.
Fueled by a five-game surge, Svitolina scored a 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 comeback win over Karolina Muchova to keep her semifinal hopes at the WTA Finals alive.
The sixth-seeded Svitolina improved to 1-1 in Group 2 round-robin play, while the seventh-seeded Muchova fell to 0-2 with one round-robin match remaining.
It’s been a painful period for Svitolina, who announced the end of her marriage to husband Gael Monfils last month.
After an erratic start today that saw her twice double fault away breaks losing the first set, Svitolina took a medical timeout for apparent treatment of a right leg issue.
An energized Svitolina played with more patience and depth when play resumed and exploited Doha champion Muchova’s tendency of missing rally balls. Muchova committed 39 unforced errors—10 more than Svitolina.
“I tried to just put my head down and find my game,” Svitolina told Tennis Channel’s Tracy Austin afterward. “I think I was making too many errors in the first set and not even letting her play the game.
“So then I tried to play through the middle and just tried to hit the ball to find the shots and then open the court. I think it worked well. I was really not happy with the first match, first set here as well, so it helped me.”
The 32-year-old Svitolina, who won the WTA Finals in 2018, and 2024 champion Coco Gauff are the only former champions in the field.
Rome champion Svitolina struggled to land her serve consistently. Svitolina double faulted a double-break lead to Muchova at 5-2.
The Czech earned two set points on her serve, but slapped some errors, including dragging a rally forehand wide, as Svitolina broke back for 3-5.
Despite regaining one break, Svitolina returned to sporadic shotmaking. Svitolina opened and close the ninth game with double faults as she double faulted away a second straight service game and the set to Muchova.
Despite committing 17 unforced errors, including five double faults, Muchova snatched the one set lead.
After the set, Svitolina took a medical timeout for apparent treatment of a right hip issue.
Serving at 2-all, 40-15, Muchova lost the plot and began misfiring all over the court. A double fault and netted forehand from Muchova gave Svitolina the break and her first lead at 3-2.
Two games later, Svitolina exploited a game-ending double fault for her fourth consecutive game and a 5-2 lead.
The sixth-seeded Svitolina served out the set on her second set point, stamping her fifth game in a row to force a final set.
The Wimbledon finalist saved a break point, stopping her slide, to start the third set with a hold.
A sharper Svitolina broke at love then backed up the break for a 3-1 third-set lead.
Though Muchova is a fine all-court player with superior net skills, she won only two of nine trips to net today. In contrast, Svitolina was 10 of 14 at net and was hammering her forehand with more conviction as the final set progressed.
Svitolina broke again on a netted backhand for 5-2. When Muchova’s final pass sailed, Svitolina screamed closing a comeback win in two hours, two minutes. Svitolina improved to 4-1 lifetime vs. Muchova.
Seven years after she fell to Ash Barty in the final of the WTA Finals, Svitolina is pleased to be back at the season-ending event.
“So, so proud of the effort this year and the years before,” Svitolina told Tracy Austin. “I think this was my goal after coming back after pregnancy to come back to Top 10 and to play here.
“So of course I’m really proud of the effort with my team. It feels great to play here after so many years.”
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