linda

Elina Svitolina dropped just three games as she thrashed Linda Noskova to set up a WTA Finals showpiece against Mirra Andreeva.

Ukraine’s Svitolina was composed and aggressive in a 6-2 6-1 victory over Wimbledon champion Noskova in just 64 minutes.

It caps a remarkable turnaround for world number six Svitolina in Indian Wells, having suffered a heavy defeat in her opening group match against Andreeva.

However, she has shown all of her fighting spirit to win her next three matches, including snapping a six-match losing streak to Aryna Sabalenka on Friday.

Svitolina now has 11 wins over top-10 opponents this year – the most of any player on the WTA Tour.

“After losing the first match I was ready to go home, and now I’m in the final,” the 32-year-old said.

“I will do my homework with my coaches – I will try to win a bit more games than I did in the first match [against Andreeva].”

Svitolina is back in the world’s top 10 for the first time since October 2021.

She took maternity leave in May 2022 to have daughter Skai, and has made an effort to play more aggressive tennis since her return.

She returned brilliantly against Noskova, neutralising the Czech’s big serve from the first game.

Noskova was well below her best, hitting 11 double faults and committing 27 unforced errors to Svitolina’s 18.

It is the third time Svitolina has reached the final of the season-ending tournament, having lifted the trophy in 2018.

Earlier, Andreeva became the youngest player for 22 years to reach the WTA Finals showpiece with a composed victory over Jessica Pegula.

French Open champion Andreeva came back from a break down in both sets to win 6-3 6-4.

The 19-year-old Russian is the youngest finalist at the season-ending event since Maria Sharapova, who was 17 when she won the title in 2004.

Victory over American Pegula ensures Andreeva will finish the year as world number two.

“I did not feel one bit of pressure today, I don’t know why,” Andreeva told Sky Sports.

“Usually I feel like on these important points or when I have to close out the match or the set I get so tight.

“But for some reason today I was just playing. I was just not thinking about anything, just trying to enjoy.”

Tournament debutant Andreeva has yet to drop a set and has not lost more than four games in any of her eight sets.

The 18 games she has lost is the fewest for a finalist at the WTA Finals since the round-robin format was introduced in 2003.

Under the guidance of coach Conchita Martinez, Andreeva has developed her serve into a real weapon.

She won 77% of points behind her first serve and hit 17 winners to outmuscle Pegula.

Andreeva also showed impressive composure, remaining unfazed despite going an early break down in both sets against the home favourite.

Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova dismantled Coco Gauff to become the first player to reach the last four of the WTA Finals.

Czech Noskova played with controlled aggression and served brilliantly to beat the American 6-3 6-3.

World number eight Noskova was composed throughout and broke Gauff’s serve four times in the first set alone.

She sent powerful winners to all corners to outmuscle her opponent, who is one of the best movers on the WTA Tour, and committed only one unforced error in a dominant second set.

The 21-year-old fittingly sealed victory with an ace to secure a place in the semi-finals on her tournament debut.

“Thank you guys for the cheers I’m getting now – but it was a little weaker in the match, guys, I’m not going to lie,” Noskova joked to the California crowd afterwards.

“I feel like I stayed in the match through every moment, from beginning to end.”

It is a sixth top-10 victory of the season for Noskova, who won her maiden Grand Slam at Wimbledon in July.

Gauff, who won a thriller against compatriot Jessica Pegula on Sunday, had a poor day on serve.

She hit the same amount of aces and double faults – eight apiece – and won only six of 24 points behind her second serve.

Fourth-ranked Gauff can still qualify for the last four, as can Pegula.

Earlier in group one, Pegula claimed her first win since September to eliminate alternate Marta Kostyuk.

American Pegula won 6-2 7-5 in a scrappy match that saw seven breaks of serve.

Ukraine’s Kostyuk, who has been dealing with a wrist injury since August, only found out she would be playing on Saturday after world number one Elena Rybakina withdrew.

She lost her opener to Noskova on Sunday and struggled for rhythm and consistency in a low-quality match against Pegula.

Pegula made only five unforced errors to Kostyuk’s 17 as she took the first set, and the home favourite quickly went up a break in the second.

However, four breaks of serve then ensued, with Pegula eventually sealing the decisive break at 5-5 before serving out victory.

Elsewhere, Britain’s Toby Samuel fell 6-1 6-4 to world number 25 Lorenzo Musetti in the Basel Open second round.

EastEnders Charlie Brooks has revealed all on her return to the BBC soap as Janine Butcher, amid a new storyline for Linda Carter ahead if actress Kellie Bright’s exit

EastEnders’ Charlie Brooks says returning to her role as bad girl Janine Butcher “feels like home”.

The actress, 45, returned to the soap last night (Thu) four years after the character was arrested for perverting the course of justice and jailed. Viewers saw her eyeing up the contents of a mystery brown envelope, teasing what tricks she may have up her sleeve this time around.

Brooks, who first played the role in 1999, aged 17, said: “I always love coming back to Janine. She’s an exciting character to play, and it’s always fun to discover what she’s been doing and what she’s been up to as an actress.

“Seeing everyone back at the studio, and working with Kellie [Bright] again, has been amazing.” Asked what to expect from her character’s return, Brooks says: “I don’t know if anyone wants to see a reformed Janine ever, so we can rest assured that we are leaning into the true nature of who Janine is. As always, it’s about survival for her.”

Despite all the drama that follows her character, she says Janine is fun to play. She said: “I always like trying to understand a little bit more about her each time I play her, and I think the ‘why’ is so important.

“She’s a lot of things, but she’s also a super fun character to play. She’s very camp, and I have a lot of fun with her. Janine is also deep, and she’s got a lot going on, so it’s always interesting to explore that.”

The character’s return will lead to a bombshell discovery for her former rival Linda Carter, ahead of actress Kellie’s exit from the soap after 13 years. Linda hasn’t seen Janine since her arrest in 2022.

Linda had been framed for a drink-drive crash, and the truth only came out after the tragic death of Janine’s husband, Linda’s ex Mick Carter, played by Danny Dyer. Mick is believed to have drowned after being swept out to sea, after saving pregnant Janine following a car accident.

Mick had returned to the water to save his true love Linda, unaware she had already reached the shore. Brooks said: “One of the reasons I was coming back was to be part of Kellie’s storyline as we had such a great time working together last time.

“I’ve known a lot of the cast for many years, and that brings a nice sense of familiarity and peace when I go back. It also allows playfulness because it’s familiar and it feels safe.

“Being in that environment and having done it since I was 17 is why I feel like I can be quite brave with Janine because I’m surrounded by great people.”

EastEnders airs Mondays to Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.