Aryna Sabalenka (no. 1) emerged as the boss in the opening match of the WTA Masters in Riyadh. The Belarusian dominated the Chinese Zheng Qinwen (7) 6-3 6-4 in the first day of Group A.
Favorite of an end-of-season tournament that she has never won, Aryna Sabalenka needed less than 90′ to beat Zhenq Qinwen for the 4th time in 4 duels this year. She never lost her serve in this game, erasing the only break point she had to face.
Victorious at the Australian Open – where she beat Zheng Qinwen in the final – and the US Open this year, Aryna Sabalenka only has to win her two other group matches to ensure she finishes the season at the top of the WTA rankings. Her two other opponents in this group are Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina.
The task of her rival Iga Swiatek (2) is much more complicated in Saudi Arabia. Winner of Roland-Garros and four WTA 1000s (Doha, Indian Wells, Madrid and Rome), the Pole is obliged to win the tournament if she wants to have a chance of recovering her throne.
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