On Monday, Group Purple took center stage at the WTA Finals, with Aryna Sabalenka securing her place in the semifinals by defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5. Coming in as the tournament favorite, Sabalenka demonstrated her dominance early, racing to a 4-0 lead in the opening set. Although Paolini managed to slow Sabalenka’s momentum briefly, holding her serve to make it 4-2, the top-seeded Belarusian stayed composed and finished the set at 6-3.
A Tight Second Set with Paolini Pushing Back
The second set saw a more resilient Paolini, who claimed an early lead by breaking Sabalenka’s serve to go up 2-1. However, Sabalenka quickly responded, evening the score at 2-2 and then pressing her advantage to take a 4-2 lead. Paolini showed impressive composure under pressure, fighting back to level the set at 4-4 and eventually leading 5-4, putting Sabalenka in a challenging position.
Sabalenka Clinches Victory and Secures Semifinal Spot
Facing pressure, Sabalenka held her ground, displaying her powerful serve and tactical play to level the score at 5-5. She then broke Paolini’s serve in a crucial moment, securing a 6-5 lead and maintaining her momentum to win the final game decisively. With this win, Sabalenka has advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Finals, solidifying her standing as a leading contender for the title.
