Sabalenka Sets Her Sights on Year-End No. 1 with Dominant WTA Finals Start
Aryna Sabalenka, the current world No. 1, kicked off her WTA Finals campaign in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a resounding 6-3, 6-4 victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen. The Australian and US Open champion, headlining the first women’s professional tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, showcased her power and precision, dominating the match against Zheng. This victory marked Sabalenka’s fourth win over Zheng in 2024.
“She’s such a great player. We always have great battles,” Sabalenka said of her opponent. “She plays aggressive tennis. She forced me to step in and go for it. That’s why I bring my best tennis and I’m super happy with the first win.”
Sabalenka, aiming to retain her top spot, needs to either win three round-robin matches or reach the final. Her closest challenger, Iga Świątek, needs to defend her WTA Finals title to have a chance of overtaking Sabalenka.
“It would mean everything to me. It’s one of my dreams,” Sabalenka said about potentially winning the title, having lost in the final in 2022. “I’ve really worked hard in the last few years. I really hope I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy one day.”
Zverev Advances to Paris Masters Final with Thrilling Victory
In Paris, Alexander Zverev secured his place in the Paris Masters final with a hard-fought 6-3, 7-6(7-4) victory over Holger Rune. Zverev, the world No. 3, will face Ugo Humbert in the final. The German star, who reached his first hard-court final of the season, had to battle through a tough second set to overcome the 2022 champion Rune.
“I feel like I made it a little difficult for myself, but he (Rune) is a champion,” Zverev said. “It’s probably his favorite tournament and favorite court, but I’m happy to be in my second final here. I’m looking forward to it.”
Zverev broke Rune in the fourth game of the first set and saved two break points in the fifth on his way to winning the opener. The second set saw a close battle with Zverev failing to serve out the match while leading 5-4. However, he recovered to win the tie-break, earning a place in his second Paris Masters final.
Humbert, who defeated Carlos Alcaraz earlier in the tournament, became the fifth Frenchman to reach the Paris Masters final. He achieved this feat after a hard-fought three-set victory over Karen Khachanov.
“It is amazing to do it in Paris at my favorite tournament. It is a dream,” Humbert said. “It was a little bit difficult compared to the previous matches. I felt a little more pressure and after the loss of the first set I tried to enjoy the moment and be with the crowd. I did very well and I am super proud.”
Looking Ahead to the WTA Finals and Paris Masters
With Sabalenka starting strong at the WTA Finals, the competition is heating up. Iga Świątek will face Barbora Krejcikova in the Orange Group on Sunday, while Coco Gauff will take on Jessica Pegula. The Paris Masters final promises to be a thrilling encounter between Zverev and Humbert. Tennis fans are eagerly anticipating the outcome of these high-stakes matches.
