WTA Finals: Statement semi-final seal for Zheng Qinwen, thumps Jasmine Paolini in Riyadh

Some displays this week will feature a calculator to make sure players are through to the latter stages but Zheng Qinwen left nothing to chance in Riyadh sealing her WTA Finals semi-final spot with a thumping 6-1, 6-1 win over Jasmine Paolini.

She continued her superb second half of 2024 with victory over the World No.4 and will advance to Friday's semi-final albeit doesn't know her opponent yet. That is still to be confirmed. She only needed 67 minutes though to dispatch the Italian.

She smashed 12 aces and five breaks of serve as she displayed a deft touch and flawless fancy footwork to put on a real statement display in moving through. She has now beaten Paolini all four times they have played. She produced six consecutive first serves that weren't returned with her exquisite ace a weapon to be truly marvelled at.

Continuing to break new ground, she has made it a debut to remember. She is the youngest to reach the semi-finals since Petra Kvitova in 2011. It is her seventh semi-final of the year and the first time she's ever beaten two top 10 players in the same tournament.

She has won 30 matches since Wimbledon four more than Aryna Sabalenka showing her streak as the player to beat outside of the World No.1. Winning Olympic gold, Palermo, Tokyo and reaching the Quarter-Finals at the US Open. She has now added the WTA finals to her resume.

Paolini ends a career best breakout season albeit with a crushing loss but her best yet overall. She is still in doubles with Sara Errani and can look back with serious pride at a 2024 truly to remember.