RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Aryna Sabalenka reached the semifinals of the WTA Finals with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Jasmine Paolini on Monday for a second straight victory within the group stage.
The highest-ranked Sabalenka cruised within the first set after constructing a 4-0 lead, then saved two set factors within the second to advance on the year-ending match for the highest eight ranked gamers.
Sabalenka will face already eradicated Elena Rybakina on Wednesday within the closing group match of the week.
Sabalenka has gained 22 of her final 23 matches, and three of the final 4 tournaments by which she performed.
One other round-robin win will safe her the year-end No. 1 rating for the primary time in her profession.
Within the different Purple Group match, Zheng Qinwen defeated Rybakina 7-6 (4) 3-6, 6-1 to keep up probabilities of advancing.
It was Zheng’s first profession win over Rybakina in three tries.
Rybakina sits at 0-2 and may’t advance to the semifinals. She misplaced to Paolini on Saturday, whereas Sabalenka eased to a straight-set victory over Zheng within the opening match in Saudi Arabia.
Zheng and Paolini will play one another on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to her first WTA Finals semifinal to face the winner of the Orange Group.