Opposed to Jasmine Paolini far from being at her best level, Aryna Sabalenka started her journey in the WTA Finals with a success in two dry sets.
Aryna Sabalenka is launched in Riyadh. In search of a first title at the WTA Finals three years after her defeat in the final against Caroline Garcia, the world number 1 was able to defeat Jasmine Paolini for her entry into the running in the last meeting of the season. Facing an opponent who was not in the best shape after being ill at the start of the week,
the Belarusian got off to a flying start. So, after being hooked on her first service game, she immediately found the fault on that of the Transalpine before confirming to lead three games to nothing. With pride, Jasmine Paolini first stood up to Aryna Sabalenka.
Paolini tried to resist
She then knew how to take advantage of the latter’s mistakes to erase her break behind at the end of the seventh game. An alert to which the native of Minsk immediately responded. Pushing the world number 8 to make a mistake, she regained control on the scoreboard before concluding this first round on the second occasion after 36 minutes. On his momentum and facing an opponent who has visibly given up, Aryna Sabalenka stepped up the pace. Not without saving two break points in the meantime, the world number 1 took Jasmine Paolini’s service twice in a row on three break points obtained.
Sabalenka provides the essentials
The result was a score of four games to nothing for the Belarusian in very quick fashion. If the Transalpine then found the resources to unlock its counter, this will only have served to save its honor. After having won her serve, Aryna Sabalenka beat Jasmine Paolini to make her crack. With a final winning forehand attack, the boss of the WTA circuit sealed the fate of this meeting (6-3, 6-1 in 1h10′). She will thus have the opportunity to take a big step towards the final four this Tuesday against the winner of the other match counting for this group Steffi Graf opposing Jessica Pegula to Coco Gauff.
