RIYADH — Aryna Sabalenka started her quest to safe the year-end primary rating with a thumping 6-3 6-4 victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen in her opening spherical robin match on the WTA finals in Riyadh on Saturday.
Australian and U.S. Open champion Sabalenka, who’s headlining the primary girls’s skilled tennis event in Saudi Arabia, packed far an excessive amount of energy for Zheng at essential factors of their fourth assembly of 2024 to remain excellent.
“She’s such an incredible participant. We all the time have nice battles,” Sabalenka stated.
“She performs aggressive tennis. She pressured me to step in and go for it. That is why I carry my greatest tennis and I am tremendous pleased with the primary win.”
In a rematch of their Melbourne and Wuhan title clashes, it was Belarusian Sabalenka who edged forward in a decent opening set with a break within the sixth sport and took the early lead within the contest by holding to like.
Olympic champion Zheng loved loads of vociferous assist on the King Saud College Indoor Area and led 4 occasions in a better second set however Sabalenka drew degree every time and at last broke for a 5-4 lead with a searing forehand winner.
She wrapped up the competition on serve regardless of a wobble with a double fault, when Zheng despatched a forehand lengthy.
The WTA Finals, which options the highest eight singles gamers and doubles groups on the earth and has a report prize pot of $15 million, will culminate with the title clashes on Nov. 9.
Successful three spherical robin matches or reaching the ultimate are among the methods Sabalenka can retain prime spot this yr, whereas closest challenger Iga Swiatek must efficiently defend the trophy to have any likelihood of overtaking her.
“It could imply the whole lot to me. It is one in every of my goals,” Sabalenka stated about doubtlessly successful the title after shedding within the ultimate when it was held in Fort Price, Texas in 2022.
“I’ve actually labored onerous in the previous few years. I actually hope I will be capable of maintain this lovely trophy at some point.”
Roland Garros and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini then beat 2022 All England Membership champion Elena Rybakina 7-6(5) 6-4 within the second match from the Purple Group.
Swiatek takes on Barbora Krejcikova within the Orange Group on Sunday earlier than Coco Gauff meets Jessica Pegula.
