Jasmine Paolini scored an impressive victory over Elena Rybakina, defeating the Kazakh player 7-6(5), 6-4 in a tightly contested match within the Purple Group at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Paolini, seeded fourth, matched the success of world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, beginning the tournament without dropping a set. The opening set saw both players exchange breaks, with Paolini narrowly edging out Rybakina in a tiebreaker, capitalizing on her opponent’s 36 unforced errors.
Decisive Moments in the Second Set
The second set continued with balanced play, as both players held serve until the late stages. Paolini finally broke through, taking a 5-3 lead and closing out the match 6-4 with a steady hold. Her consistency, with only 16 unforced errors compared to Rybakina’s higher count, proved crucial in securing the win.
Sabalenka’s Strong Start; Świątek and Gauff Set to Play
Earlier, top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus defeated China’s Qinwen Zheng in straight sets, marking her first group victory. Meanwhile, fans anticipate Iga Świątek’s upcoming Orange Group debut against Barbora Krejcikova, followed by the matchup between Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula. The top two players from each group will move on to the semifinals, with the tournament finale scheduled for November 9.
