By Siring Adol Caur
- Aryna Sabalenka [1] v Jasmine Paolini [4]
- Elena Rybakina [5] v Qinwen Zheng [7]
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – On Day 3 of the WTA Finals, we will see the top seeds play against each other the first time this year with world number one Aryna Sabalenka headlining the day’s play against Jasmine Paolini.
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Aryna Sabalenka [1] v Jasmine Paolini [4] H2H & Match Fundamentals
Aryna Sabalenka [1] v Jasmine Paolini [4] | H2H: 2-2 |
WTA Finals 2024 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
Indoor Hard | Prize Money: $350,000 |
Third on Center Court (Not before 15:00 GMT) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
The second match of day three will see the leading ladies from the group, the ones who have a levelled both, the head-to-head and points on the table. The debutant and the Italian number one will take on the world number one. They have had two meetings in this decade, both of which were played on a hard surface, won each apiece. It will be one of the most anticipated matches as these two have not faced each other this year. The last meeting they had was held at Beijing, when Jasmine Paolini was ranked out of top 30 and Aryna Sabalenka was the then world number one.
Sabalenka thrashed Zheng in the first day meeting and the gold medallist was so zoned out that she did not realise that the match was over. The US Open champion slammed winning forehands as well as saved and converted all the break point she was offered. Paolini played a strategic game and wisely used her footwork as a weapon to cover up for the height difference she had with her opponent, Rybakina. Being broken in just one game of the first set, she took a comforting lead and tactically held her serves to sail through the second set.
Paolini has been going up the ladder since she broke into top 30 in October 2023 and has no plans to stop, inching forward match by match. Her two grand slam finals on different surfaces signify the potential and adaptability she has, over all surfaces she plays on. She formerly struggled on hard, but her progression at slams exhibits her emerging as an all-rounder. Sabalenka, a clearly dominating force on the tour, with two grand slams won this year, has left nothing to prove her wit and grit. Having an 82% winning record across all surfaces this year, sets her apart. The hard surface is easily her comfort zone.
Both players, weaponizing on the forehands and backhands, can play a game bringing the spectators on the edge of their seats. The fast-paced wrists would make the racquets swinging as fast as possible, while the feet running at an equal pace.
Prediction: Sabalenka in three sets.
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Elena Rybakina [5] v Qinwen Zheng [7] H2H & Match Fundamentals
Elena Rybakina [5] v Qinwen Zheng [7] | H2H: Rybakina leads 2-0 |
WTA Finals 2024 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
Indoor Hard | Prize Money: $350,000 |
Second on Center Court (Not before 12:30 GMT) | Sky/Now TV <- Subscription Required |
The purple group will be in action for the second match of the respective players. As per the current standings, Paolini and Sabalenka lead the board with a win each to their name against Elena Rybakina and Qinwen Zheng respectively.
Rybakina has been back in action from a break she took after withdrawing in the second round of the US Open in September this year. In her first match against the Italian, she was overpowered by the thrashing forehand and cross court backhands well tackled and returned by her, but the debutant came out stronger, as she took the right opportunities to break the serve of the former and saved four out of five break points.
Zheng can get an advantage over Rybakina, as the Chinese has been consistent and fluent in the game from the Olympics, having defeated some top players like Paolini and Donna Vekic. Her forehand and backhand are the weapons she can unleash with strength, and her multiple serves turning to aces. Rybakina, with her less consistent first serve and increased number of unforced errors can struggle to collect winning points in the group to progress further.
The previous two meetings they had were one each in the past two years. The world number 5 can push the Chinese to numerous breaks, while she has converted about half of the break points this year. Her height can give her an advantage to meet the clashing shots and extend rallies, resulting in an exhilarating game
Prediction: Zheng in three sets.
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