The first singles match Wednesday at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells was all about survival, and Karolina Muchova and Elina Svitolina played like it.

With both players having lost their first match on Monday, falling to 0-2 — while not mathematically — puts a player on the edge of elimination so a Wednesday win was vital.

In the end it was Svitolina rallying in dramatic fashion from a set down and an injury to win in three sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Svitolina, who won this event back in 2018, she literally embodied the phrase "down but not out." After losing the first set 6-3, she called for the trainer who had her lay on the court and go through a series of stretches and movements to help what was ailing her. It worked.

Svitolina seemed like a different player after that as she stormed to a 6-2 win in the second set and then finished the match winning 12 of the last 16 games.

With the win, Svitolina is still in contention for one of the two semifinal spots to come out of her group, a group which also includes Aryna Sabalenka and Mirra Andreeva who face each other later Wednesday.

Muchova is on the cusp of elimination, though she still has a mathematical chance to advance. She would need Sabalenka to beat Andreeva later in the day to stay in the hunt for the semifinals. If Andreeva wins, Muchova will be eliminated.

Friday's final day of action in this group will pit Svitolina vs. Sabalenka, and Andreeva vs. Muchova.

Wednesday's WTA Finals advancement and elimination scenarios

• Sabalenka clinches a semifinal spot if ... she wins in straight sets and Svitolina wins in three sets

• Andreeva advances as the group winner if ... she wins and Svitolina wins

• Muchova is eliminated if ... she loses and Andreeva beats Sabalenka