WTA Masters: Sabalenka takes care of her entry by beating Zheng in straight sets

World number one Aryna Sabalenka successfully entered the WTA Masters by dominating Chinese Zheng Qinwen, world No. 7, in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, during the opening match of the competition this Saturday in Riyadh.

The Belarusian showed her power to win the first set (6-3), before breaking the reigning Olympic champion at the end of the second set (6-4).

Sabalenka26 years old, has never lost against the young Chinese (22 years old) whom she met in the final of theAustralian Open a you WTA 1000 de Wuhan this season. The two players are in the purple pool, along with the Italian Jasmine Paolini (4ᵉ) and the Kazakh Elena Rybakina (5ᵉ), who confront each other immediately.

Victorious ofAustralian Open and theUS Open this season, the Belarusian only has to win her two other group matches to ensure she finishes the season at the top of the rankings WTA.

In search of his first Masters, Sabalenka is in competition with the Polish Iga Swiatekworld No. 2 and winner of the 2023 edition, from whom she took first place in the world last month.

THE Masters WTA take place for the first time in Saudi Arabia, a country which wants to establish itself as a stronghold of world Tennis. The capital Riyadh also hosted an exhibition tournament last month bringing together six big names in men's tennis.