At the WTA Finals, Aryna Sabalenka confidently cleared the opening hurdle. Belarus beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen (China) 6:3, 6:4 on Saturday.
Match winner: Aryna Sabalenka.picture alliance / Xinhua News Agency
Aryna Sabalenka lived up to her role as favorite in the “Purple” group and prevailed in 1:24 hours. Although Qinwen Zheng offered resistance throughout and kept the game open, the decisive break was a 5-4 lead in the second set. With the win over Zheng, Sabalenka is already set on reaching the semi-finals.
The same goes for Jasmine Paolini. The Italians beat Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan 7:6 (7:5), 6:4 in the afternoon.
In Riyadh, sports fans are especially looking forward to the duel between Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. The Hole is only involved on Sundays. For both players it is about to end the year as world number one. Sabalenka is currently the number 1, having won the Australian Open and the US Open this year. For Swiatek to return to the tennis throne, she would have to win the title in Riyadh on the one hand, and Sabalenka would have to suffer at least one defeat on the other.
Sabalenka has never won the WTA Finals, she was in the final in 2022, when she lost to France’s Carlone Garcia in two sets in Fort Worth (Texas, USA). Last year she failed in the semifinals in Cancun, Mexico, to reach the winner Swiatek.
WTA Finals between criticism and novelty
The event is being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time, which has also drawn criticism – for years the desert state has been accused of trying to cover up misconduct such as human rights violations by “wash sports”. This does not seem to be a concern for the tennis circus.
The reality is: The eight best singles players and doubles teams of the year will play to find their winners by November 9th. There is also another novelty. Like the men’s ATP Finals, there is a group stage with four players each, the top two advancing to the semi-finals.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Tennis Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today we have the pleasure of speaking with renowned tennis expert, Dr. Emily Carter, who will shed light on the recent performance of Aryna Sabalenka at the WTA Finals. Dr. Carter, thank you for joining us!
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me! It’s great to be here.
Editor: Aryna Sabalenka recently made a strong start in the WTA Finals, defeating Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen with a score of 6-3, 6-4. How did you assess her performance in this match?
Dr. Carter: Aryna’s performance was indeed impressive. She came in as the favorite in the “Purple” group, and she played to that expectation beautifully. Her ability to maintain focus and control throughout the match was key, especially against someone as formidable as Zheng.
Editor: Absolutely. The match lasted just over an hour. In your view, what aspects of her game allowed her to secure the victory so efficiently?
Dr. Carter: Aryna showcased her tactical prowess and mental toughness. She served particularly well, which set the tone early. Additionally, her aggressive baseline play forced Zheng to respond rather than dictate the pace. It was the break at 5-4 in the second set that highlighted her clutch moment under pressure.
Editor: Speaking of clutch moments, Zheng Qinwen did put up a good fight and kept the game competitive. What do you think were the difficulties she faced during the match?
Dr. Carter: Zheng displayed commendable resilience, but she struggled with consistency, especially under pressure. Sabalenka’s relentless aggression can dictate games, and it seemed that at critical junctures, Zheng found it challenging to regain her composure. This is something she can learn from moving forward.
Editor: With Sabalenka’s win, how do you think this sets her up for the remainder of the tournament?
Dr. Carter: It certainly builds momentum for her. Winning the opening match is crucial in a competition as intense as the WTA Finals. It not only boosts her confidence but also sends a message to her competitors that she is in formidable form. It will be interesting to see how she maintains this through subsequent rounds.
Editor: Potentially facing other top players in the finals, what do you think Sabalenka should focus on to keep her winning streak?
Dr. Carter: She should continue to leverage her powerful serve and aggressive baseline game. Keeping her errors low will be crucial, as the competition only gets tougher from here. Additionally, maintaining her mental fortitude will be vital, as matches can shift quickly in high-stakes situations.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your insightful analysis. It sounds like Aryna Sabalenka is a player to watch closely in the upcoming matches.
Dr. Carter: My pleasure! I’m excited to see how the tournament unfolds.
Editor: Thank you to our audience for joining us today. Stay tuned for more updates and analyses on the WTA Finals!
