Aryna Sabalenka. Photo courtesy of Belarus' NOC
MINSK, 5 November (BelTA) – Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenka has claimed her second victory in the group stage of the WTA Finals in Riyadh, BelTA has learned.
In the second round, the world number one faced off against Jessica Pegula of the USA (World No.5) and secured a hard-fought three-set win, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The match lasted 2 hours and 3 minutes. In her opening match of the tournament, Sabalenka defeated Italian Jasmine Paolini (World No.8) 6-3, 6-1, while Pegula overcame Coco Gauff (World No. 3) in a three-set battle, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2. In the first match of the day, Gauff beat Paolini 6-3, 6-2.
In the other group, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (World No. 6) claimed her second victory by defeating Poland’s Iga Swiatek (World No. 2) 3-6, 6-1, 6-0. In the match between two U.S. players, world No.4 Amanda Anisimova beat world No.7 Madison Keys with a score of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. On 5 November, Rybakina will play against Keys, while Swiatek will face Anisimova.
The top two players from each group will advance to the semifinals. The tournament in the capital of Saudi Arabia will conclude on 8 November. The total prize money stands at $15.5 million. An undefeated champion will earn $5.07 million. Last year’s champion was Coco Gauff, who defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen in the final. Aryna Sabalenka lost to Gauff in the semifinals. Sabalenka is making her fifth appearance at the WTA Finals. In 2022, she reached the final where she lost to France’s Caroline Garcia.
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