World Tennis League: Aryna Sabalenka leads from the front in double win as Hawks take early control
ATP
Aryna Sabalenka like yesterday is leading from the front for Team Hawks and it will again be up to the men's side to complete the feat against Team Eagles with only three games dropped over two matches at the World Tennis League.
Hawks lost out yesterday to Falcons despite Sabalenka winning both of her ties then too. As is the way when it comes to this tournament with every point counting no matter in victory or defeat as Andrey Rublev anchored his side to victory in the men's singles.
But Sabalenka started the morning giving her team the best chance again teaming with Mirra Andreeva. The team only just edged past Caroline Garcia and Elena Rybakina yesterday but against the tandem of Iga Swiatek, her main rival and Paula Badosa, her best friend it was a different story. It was a 6-1 win for Sabalenka and Andreeva as they took early control in quick time.
Sabalenka was again on court soon after as she faced Badosa instead of Swiatek and it was again a pretty simple assignment as the World No.1 showed every inch of why she is the top player. She eased through 6-2 and it now sits at 12-3 in favour of Hawks.
Sumit Nagal will aim to lead them to victory in the next two games with the Indian Number One teaming with Jordan Thompson to face Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Shevchenko. The former did not play yesterday as Eagles lost narrowly to Kites led by Jasmine Paolini.
But he will play the remaining two ties. He will then face Sumit Nagal in singles and given the results of the ties yesterday, it could yet go down to the wire. So certainly two to watch. But when it comes to Sabalenka, she has done her job already.
Team Hawks 6⃣➖1⃣ Team Eagles
— Z kortu - informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) December 20, 2024
Andreeva/Sabalenka - Badosa/Świątek 6:1
Dzisiaj zdecydowanie lepiej wypadł duet z aktualną liderką rankingu WTA. Zasłużone zwycięstwo.
📸 Jimmie48 Photography | WTA | #WorldTennisLeague | #czasnatenis pic.twitter.com/b0XiFIlwTr
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