No.1 Sabalenka Sizzles Past Sakkari As WTA Finals Begin
Faizan Hashmi Published October 30, 2023 | 11:10 AM
Cancún, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Oct, 2023) Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka moved closer to clinching the year-end world number one ranking on Sunday by dominating Greece's Maria Sakkari in a group-stage opener at the WTA Finals.
The 25-year-old from Belarus, who captured this year's Australian Open title, fired six aces and 17 winners while saving all five break points she faced to dispatch Sakkari 6-0, 6-1 at the season-ending event in Cancun, Mexico.
Sakkari saved three match points to hold serve in the penultimate game but fell after 74 minutes.
"It wasn't as easy as the score showed," Sabalenka said. "I just tries to stay focused, tried to control myself in this match, doing everything I can to win."
American Jessica Pegula defeated Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina 7-5, 6-2 in 83 minutes in the other singles group stage match at the $9 million outdoor hardcourt showdown.
Two groups of four players will compete in round-robin matches through Friday with the two top finishers in each group advancing to Saturday's semi-finals. The final will be next Sunday.
Sabalenka is trying to hold off second-ranked Iga Swiatek, the reigning French Open champion from Poland, to claim the year-end crown taken last year by four-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek.
Sabalenka can clinch the year-end top spot by going 2-1 in the group stage and reaching the final no matter what Swiatek does.
The triumph by Sabalenka ensures Swiatek must win the title to have a chance at the year-end top spot.
Sabalenka was the runner-up in last month's US Open and reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and the French Open. She also won WTA titles this year at Madrid and Adelaide.
Sabalenka became world number one after her run to the US Open final in September, ending Swiatek's 75-week rankings reign after her debut at number one in April 2022.
"It's good to reach one of your goals but you still need to work hard and bring your best tennis," Sabalenka said. "When you reach number one I feel like you have this huge target on your back."
Monday's opening matches in the other group send Swiatek against reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic and 19-year-old American Coco Gauff, the US Open champion, against Tunisia's Ons Jabeur.
js/sev
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 7 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 07 May 2024
Sharjah Animation Conference explores cross-cultural collaboration opportunities ..
Sharjah Public Library provides countless opportunities for young imaginations t ..
Sharjah Police launches 'Your belongings, your responsibility' awareness campaig ..
Dubai Police displays Innovative Tourism Security Services at 'ATM 2024'
Mohammad Haris, Aamir Jamal not part of national squad for Ireland, England: Bab ..
Erdogan opens former church to Muslim worshippers
Cultural events hallmark of a nation, Director RAC
Iraq hangs 11 convicted of 'terrorism': security, health sources
Stocks rise on renewed hopes of rate cuts
PM assures all-out support to Saudi investment
More Stories From World
-
UN experts slams Israel’s ‘sexual assault and violence’ against women, children in Gaza
3 minutes ago -
UN pledges to stand with Gazans amid reports Hamas has accepted ceasefire deal
3 minutes ago -
Israel bombards Rafah ahead of talks aimed at sealing truce deal
12 minutes ago -
Boeing Starliner crewed mission postponed shortly before launch
12 minutes ago -
Courtnae Paul, the S.African chasing Olympic breakdancing glory
13 minutes ago -
Boeing probed in US over possible falsified records on 787
23 minutes ago
-
Crystal Palace thrash Man Utd 4-0 to leave Ten Hag's future in doubt
33 minutes ago -
Man Utd rut 'not good enough' but Ten Hag vows to fight on
42 minutes ago -
Amazon says will invest $9 billion in Singapore
43 minutes ago -
Putin: The autocrat eyeing a new world order
43 minutes ago -
New York judge threatens Trump with jail for gag order violations
53 minutes ago -
Pakistan pushes for preventing weaponization of outer-space to avert threats to peace
2 hours ago