The WTA Finals began on Saturday with a match in the Purple Group between Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka, the World No. 1, showed her dominance by winning 6-3 6-4, breaking Zheng’s serve once in each set. This solid start puts Sabalenka in a good position in the group stage as she aims to stay undefeated and secure the year-end No. 1 ranking.
With this win, Sabalenka now leads Zheng 5-0 in their head-to-head matchups and continues her impressive 21-1 streak in recent games.
As one of the top eight players globally, Sabalenka reaps the rewards of her success. Her victory in Riyadh earns her a substantial prize of $350,000 from the total prize money of $15.25 million and an additional 200 ranking points.
Everything you need to know and Sabalenka v Swiatek for year-end No.1, via @WTA pic.twitter.com/kWw2fJQEZO
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) November 2, 2024
Sabalenka’s path to securing the year-end No. 1 ranking is clear: win all three group-stage matches. With one victory under her belt, she is two wins away from achieving her goal. Even if she doesn’t sweep the group, reaching the final would guarantee her the top spot, regardless of Iga Swiatek’s performance. Swiatek can only regain the top rank by winning the tournament outright.
Aside from Sabalenka and Zheng, the Purple Group also includes Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina. The Orange Group consists of Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova.
