Aryna Sabalenka started her 2024 WTA Finals with a comfortable win over Qinwen Zheng in the round-robin stage.
The Belarusian player is chasing not only the WTA Finals trophy in Riyadh, but also the year-end World No. 1 rank. She has an edge over her closest rival, Iga Swiatek, and after her first win, she's now even closer to the year-end World No. 1 spot.
Her first opponent was Qinwen Zheng, a player who plays a similar style, depending on big serve and groundstrokes from the baseline. She was the better player early in the match, working her way to a break point in the third game.
She couldn't use that, and it would come back to haunt her. Only a few games later, in the sixth game, Sabalenka worked her way to two break points, and despite failing to use the first one, she converted the second one to lead 4-2.
After that, the World No. 1 player comfortably held her serve for the remainder of the first set to win it 6-3. At the WTA Finals, not only won matches count, but also every won game and set due to the round-robin format.
Because of that, that first set won was crucial for Sabalenka; like any set, any player wins at the event. Obviously, the Belarusian player doesn't want to do mathematics but to win matches, and that's what she did in the second set.
Both players were nearly perfect on their serve in the second set, but that was until Zheng felt pressure in the ninth game of the second set. She couldn't save the second of two break points, falling behind 4-5.
Sabalenka easily served out the match, winning 6-3, 6-4 to secure her first win at the 2024 WTA Finals. The match ended funnily, as Zheng was not aware that it ended, and she went to her towel instead to shake her opponent's hand. Once she realized this, she rushed to the net.
For Sabalenka, it was an important win. Her next two opponents will be Jasmina Paolini and Elena Rybakina, and following her first win, the Belarusian spoke about her opponent, admiring her qualities.
"I don’t know. She’s such a great player. We always had great battles. She plays aggressive tennis. She forced me to step in and go for it. That’s why I bring my best tennis. Super happy with the first win. She’s such a tough opponent."
The World No. 1 player also spoke about her desire to win the WTA Finals. With this win, she got one step closer to it.
"It would mean everything to me. It’s one of my dreams. I really worked hard the past years since the very beginning of my career. I really hope I’ll be able to hold this beautiful trophy one day."