Aryna Sabalenka has advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Finals in Riyadh with a commanding 6-3, 7-5 victory over Jasmine Paolini. This win not only secures her a spot in the final four as the Purple Group leader but also places her within reach of ending the year as the WTA world No. 1. Sabalenka overcame an early deficit in the second set and saved two set points at 4-5, rallying to finish in straight sets and continue her impressive form, having won 22 of her last 23 matches. Reflecting on the match, Sabalenka noted that her persistence and aggressive play helped her stay in control, even as she briefly anticipated a third set.
Meanwhile, China's Zheng Qinwen achieved a crucial 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-1 victory over world No. 5 Elena Rybakina, keeping her hopes of advancing to the semifinals alive. Zheng’s win over Rybakina, her first in three meetings, not only redeemed her opening loss to Sabalenka but also marked her ninth career victory against a top-10 opponent. Despite her victory, Zheng faced an emotional moment on the court. Frustrated by the intense cheers from her fans during a critical phase in the final set, she shouted, “Don’t shout more,” but later apologized, acknowledging she could have managed her emotions better.
Zheng has emerged as one of the WTA tour's top players this season, capturing titles in Palermo and Tokyo and winning an Olympic gold medal in Paris. Her remarkable second half of the season saw her become the first Chinese player since Li Na in 2013 to qualify for the WTA Finals. Leading in aces and boasting a strong serve percentage, she has also accumulated a tour-high of 20 three-set victories in 2024 – the highest since 2016.
The tense matchup saw Zheng claim the first set in a tiebreak after initially leading 4-1, only for Rybakina to fight back. Though Zheng lost the second set, Rybakina’s comeback forced a deciding third set, where Zheng regained her momentum, securing a 4-1 lead and eventually the win. For Rybakina, this marked her second consecutive defeat in the round-robin stage, ruling out her chances of advancing to the semifinals.
With these results, Sabalenka remains on track to secure the year-end top ranking, while Zheng’s resurgence adds anticipation to the next rounds of the WTA Finals.
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