WTA Finals Day 3 Preview & Schedule: Sabalenka seeks semifinal place, Rybakina and Zheng fight to stay alive
WTA
The third day of Round Robin play kicks off at the WTA Finals, with Aryna Sabalenka
looking to secure her spot in the semifinals. The Purple Group started with
wins by the Belarusian and Jasmine Paolini, who will now compete for group
leadership.
On the
other side, Elena Rybakina and Zheng Qinwen face each other, both needing a
victory to stay in contention for a semifinal spot. Both suffered losses in
their opening matches, and the loser here is likely eliminated from the
tournament.
Rybakina and Zheng in a must-win clash
Zheng
Qinwen faced a tough start against an in-form Aryna Sabalenka, likely the most
challenging debut for the 22-year-old. Both players have been in top form at
the close of the season, but the Belarusian has become a major hurdle for
Zheng, who has lost all five of their encounters (winning just one set out of
ten).
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Initially
seen as a strong candidate to advance alongside Sabalenka, Zheng now needs a
win to stay in the tournament. She faces Rybakina, who returned to competition
against Jasmine Paolini after more than two months off. Rybakina’s season has
been plagued with withdrawals and physical issues, making her the least active
player in the draw. Despite starting strong with her serve, she faded as the
match went on, ending with 27 winners and 56 unforced errors.
Both
players need to improve their first serve to boost their chances. Rybakina
landed only 50% (winning 82%), while Zheng had 51% (winning 82%). While the
Kazakh leads their head-to-head 2-0 and has never dropped a set to the Chinese
player, the momentum now favors Zheng, who is in great form at the end of the
year, while Rybakina is still adapting to high-level competition after a long
absence.
Zheng Qinwen after her loss against Sabalenka
Sabalenka daces Paolini for Group lead
Aryna
Sabalenka shows no signs of slowing down, opening with a commanding win in the
first round. Returning as world No. 1, she put on the best debut performance,
defeating the challenging Zheng Qinwen with ease and solidifying her position
as the favorite for the title. In her opening match, she won 94% of first serve
points and didn't face a single break.
She’ll meet
Jasmine Paolini, arguably the WTA's biggest improvement this season. Early in
the year, the 27-year-old had only four Grand Slam wins in 16 tournaments, but
her 2024 season has been her best yet, reaching the finals of Roland Garros and
Wimbledon, capturing her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai, and climbing into the
top five.
Paolini
achieved her first top-10 indoor win against Rybakina just days ago,
capitalizing on her opponent’s errors and mixing up her serve to make up for
her lack of height. Indoor hardcourt conditions, however, don’t favor the 1.62m
Italian player, especially against the 1.82m Sabalenka. Paolini’s strength lies
in longer rallies, which will be tough to achieve against Sabalenka under these
conditions.
Sabalenka
is the favorite to win and secure her semifinal spot at the WTA Finals.
Paolini, though a tricky opponent, knows she has a safety net after, which
might ease her nerves. Still, the Italian won’t give up any point easily as she
aims to pull off an upset against the nearly unstoppable Sabalenka.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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