Top-ranked tennis players Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula clinched decisive victories on Sunday as the WTA Finals opened in Saudi Arabia.
World No. 1 Sabalenka, from Belarus, swiftly defeated Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, the eighth-ranked player, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. The match lasted just 70 minutes.
Sabalenka’s win marked her 500th career victory. Earlier in the week, she secured the year-end No. 1 ranking. She recorded 24 winners, including 11 aces, against 28 unforced errors.
In the same Stefanie Graf Group, American Jessica Pegula, ranked fifth, overcame compatriot Coco Gauff, the world No. 3, in a three-set battle: 6-3, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2. The match spanned over two hours and 12 minutes.
Gauff, who was defending a title in Riyadh, struggled throughout her match. She committed 17 double faults and had her serve broken nine times.
This was Pegula’s fourth consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals. She is now scheduled to face Sabalenka in the next round of group play.
The WTA Finals brings together the top eight women’s singles players for the season-ending championship. The choice of Saudi Arabia as a host nation has been a subject of discussion within the tennis community.
Play in the Serena Williams Group is set to begin Monday. Poland’s Iga Swiatek, ranked second globally, will compete against Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, the world No. 6.
Another match will feature Americans Amanda Anisimova, ranked fourth, and Madison Keys, ranked seventh.