11.1 C
New York
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
pCloud Premium

Sabalenka downs Zheng for winning start to WTA Finals – Sport



672829fed3481

RIYADH: Aryna Sabalenka began her quest to secure the year-end number one ranking with a thumping 6-3, 6-4 victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen in her opening round robin match at the WTA Finals in Riyadh on Saturday.

Australian and US Open champion Sabalenka, who is headlining the first women’s professional tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia, packed far too much power for Zheng at crucial points in their fourth meeting of 2024 to stay perfect.

In a rematch of their Melbourne and Wuhan title clashes, it was Belarusian Sabalenka who edged ahead in a tight opening set with a break in the sixth game and took the early lead in the contest by holding to love.

Olympic champion Zheng enjoyed plenty of vociferous support at the King Saud University Indoor Arena and led four times in a closer second set but Sabalenka drew level each time and finally broke for a 5-4 lead with a searing forehand winner.

She wrapped up the contest on serve despite a wobble with a double fault, when Zheng sent a forehand long.

The WTA Finals, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world and has a record prize pot of $15 million, will culminate with the title clashes on Nov 9.

Winning three round robin matches or reaching the final are some of the ways Sabalenka can retain top spot this year, while closest challenger Iga Swiatek needs to successfully defend the trophy to have any chance of overtaking her.

Jasmine Paolini then beat Elena Rybakina 7-6(5), 6-4 in the second match from the Purple Group.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024



Source link

Odisha Expo
Odisha Expohttps://www.odishaexpo.com
Odisha Expo is one of the Largest News Aggregator of Odisha, Stay Updated about the latest news with Odisha Expo from around the world. Stay hooked for more updates.

Related Articles

Stay Connected

0FansLike
0FollowersFollow
0SubscribersSubscribe
Best Lifetime Deals on SaaSspot_img

Latest Articles

Is this the most open the Premier League has ever been?

0
How long is a piece of string? It is one of those questions that feels impossible to answer definitively but one thing you...

Pilot known for animal rescue flights dies, along with one dog, in Catskills plane...

0
A pilot known for transporting rescued dogs to shelter and care facilities died alongside a canine in a plane crash in New York...

Transgender volleyball controversy: Judge rules San Jose State women’s volleyball player eligible to play...

0
Transgender volleyball controversy: Judge rules San Jose State women’s volleyball player eligible to play in conference tournament  Yahoo Sports Source link

Judge delays resentencing hearing for Menendez brothers

0
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.First Lady Jill Biden welcomes Christmas tree from hurricane-ravaged...

BGT 2024 | India outclasses a shaky Australia to claim a resounding victory at...

0
‌Australia's troubles deepened after centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli left them on the back foot. On the fourth day, the overnight...