RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In a stunning display of power, top seed Aryna Sabalenka showcased her exceptional serving skills during her first match at the WTA Finals, hammering out 10 aces en route to a commanding 6-3, 6-1 victory over the eighth-seeded Jasmine Paolini on Sunday.
Impressively, Sabalenka fired off four aces in just the final game of the opening set, achieving a remarkable 82.7% success rate on her first serves throughout the match.
This match marked Sabalenka’s milestone 500th encounter on the WTA circuit, lasting a swift 70 minutes.
“I remained focused and calm, and everything felt under control,” said Sabalenka, reflecting on her performance.
Just a day prior, Sabalenka received a prestigious trophy in recognition of finishing the year ranked No. 1.
“I’m incredibly happy and proud of the efforts that have led to this success. It feels great to see constant improvement, and I hope to maintain this momentum,” she added. “We just need to keep up the hard work and aim to hold our position.”
The concluding tournament features the season’s top eight players divided into two groups of four, where the leading two from each group will progress to the semifinals.
Also part of Sabalenka and Paolini’s group are Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
“I approach this tournament like any other: I have to win five matches to claim the title,” Sabalenka stated. “I’m committed to delivering my best tennis and battling for every point.”
Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina both triumphed in their opening matches on Saturday.
Meanwhile, defending champion Gauff faced Pegula in an anticipated American showdown.
Additionally, Paolini and her doubles partner Sara Errani celebrated victory in their opening doubles match on the same day.
