Rybakina and Sabalenka already know their first WTA Finals rivals

The world number one, Elena Rybakina, and the American Coco Gauff have been drawn in Group 1 of the WTA Finals, while the number 2, Aryna Sabalenka, will face the number three, Mirra Andreeva, in Group Two of this championship that closes the season.

The defending champion, Rybakina, will begin the defense of her title against Gauff, Jessica Pegula – who is participating in the WTA Finals for the fourth time – and the current Wimbledon champion, Linda Noskova, who is making her debut in the tournament.

Sabalenka’s group also includes 19-year-old Andreeva, 2018 WTA Finals champion Elina Svitolina and Czech Karolina Muchova.

The event, which brings together the eight best qualifiers of the season, will be held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden from November 8 to 15. The two best players from each group in the league phase will advance to the semifinals.

Rybakina, who became world number one after the US Open in September, said that position has brought her both greater scrutiny and greater motivation.

“It’s been an incredible few months,” Rybakina said during Tuesday’s draw ceremony. “Of course, it’s a pressure because of all the attention I get, but at the same time it’s a motivation because you don’t want to lose. In this sport, you still need to work hard.”

Sabalenka will seek revenge after losing the first place in the ranking at the hands of Rybakina at the United States Open. The Belarusian won both Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year, completing the “Sunshine Double.”

In July, organizers announced that the tournament would be moved from Riyadh to Indian Wells following the early termination of the WTA’s hosting agreement with Saudi Arabia.