Agency :
Aryna Sabalenka hasn’t been reading the small print. So far, she’s avoided dwelling on the many complicated scenarios for retaining the No.1 ranking.
“No,” Sabalenka said in a Friday interview. “Anyway anytime we come to the tournament, we want to win. That’s the first goal. I’m trying to be focused on the first part. I prefer to focus step by step. Let’s just start, like, slowly.”
When it came time to play the opening single’s match on Saturday evening at the WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF, Sabalenka’s approach was anything but slow. More like fast and furious.
Sabalenka forcefully defeated Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4 — and hiked her record against the rising Chinese star to 5-0. Sabalenka has now won 21 of 22 matches.
She patiently answered no fewer than 14 questions in her postmatch press conference. None of them involved the No.1 ranking.
The one that mattered most was when a reporter wondered what gave her the advantage in the match.
“I think my mental strength,” Sabalenka said, perhaps thinking of those double faults. “That’s the advantage over her so far.”
The World No.1 is undefeated in their last 11 opening round-robin matches at the WTA Finals. Moreover, Sabalenka has won 11 matches this year against the seven other finalists — more than any of them have against the field. She also leads the WTA Tour with 10 wins against Top 10 opponents.
“I’m super happy with the win, especially against Qinwen,” Sabalenka said. “It’s always tough matches, tough battles against her, and I’m really, I’m really glad I was able to finish this match in straight sets.”