Sabalenka and Paolini Triumph on Opening Night of WTA Finals
The WTA Finals got underway on Monday night with a thrilling doubleheader that saw Aryna Sabalenka and Jasmine Paolini claim victories in straight sets.
Sabalenka Dominates Jabeur
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka wasted no time in asserting her dominance, dispatching Ons Jabeur 7-6(5), 6-2 in the opening match of the tournament.
Sabalenka's powerful serve and groundstrokes proved too much for Jabeur, who was unable to match her intensity. The Belarusian converted 63% of her first serve points and won 76% of her second serve points.
"I'm really happy with the way I played today," said Sabalenka. "I knew Ons would be a tough opponent, but I was able to stay focused and aggressive throughout the match."
Paolini Upsets Gauff
In the second match of the night, unseeded Jasmine Paolini upset eighth seed Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-4.
Paolini, who is ranked 54th in the world, played with confidence and poise, hitting deep and accurate shots from the baseline. She also showcased her impressive net play, winning 80% of her net points.
"I'm so happy to win tonight," said Paolini. "Coco is a great player, so I knew I had to play my best. I'm really proud of the way I performed today."
Up Next
Round-robin play continues on Tuesday night with two more matches. In the first match, Iga Swiatek will face Daria Kasatkina, while Maria Sakkari will take on Caroline Garcia in the second match.