Errani and Paolini win after dropping the first set
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini opened their WTA Finals campaign in Indian Wells with a 4-6, 6-1, 10-8 victory against Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, OA Sport reported.
The Italian pair dropped the opening set before overturning the deficit in a decisive super tie-break.
Road to The WTA Finals
Errani and Paolini secured the eighth and final qualification spot for the tournament following a semifinal win over Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls at the WTA tournament in Tokyo, LaPresse reported. “È stato un percorso lungo, siamo riuscite a qualificarci nell’ultimo torneo, nell’ultima partita. Siamo davvero felicissime,” Errani said, as reported by LaPresse.
The qualification capped a challenging year for the Italian duo, marked by physical issues that kept Paolini sidelined for two months and forced them to miss three of the four Grand Slam events. Siniakova and Townsend qualified with the second of the eight available spots, OA Sport noted.
Tournament Schedule and Group Standings
The WTA Finals take place in Indian Wells from November 8 to 15, LaPresse reported. Errani and Paolini compete in the round-robin stage alongside Siniakova and Townsend, Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, and Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs, according to OA Sport.
Following the opening match, the Italian pair will face the winner of the fixture between Bucsa/Melichar-Martinez and Perez/Schuurs. Siniakova and Townsend hold a past tournament final appearance from 2024, where they finished runners-up to Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe, while Siniakova won the 2022 title alongside Barbora Krejcikova, OA Sport recorded.
Where the 2026 WTA Finals occur and how teams qualify
Where are the 2026 WTA Finals taking place?
The tournament is being held in Indian Wells from November 8 to 15, according to LaPresse.
Who are the other teams in the round-robin group?
Errani and Paolini share their group with Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, and Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs, OA Sport stated.
EMPHATIC 😤 Katerina Siniakova & Taylor Townsend are putting the pressure on Errani/Paolini!#FAGEWTAFinals | #TheUltimateStage pic.twitter.com/cvioigvYY6
Back in it 💪 Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini fight back to take the second set against Siniakova/Townsend 6-1, and force a deciding tiebreak!#FAGEWTAFinals | #TheUltimateStage pic.twitter.com/zQkuP1O8uj
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