Join the Miguel Delaney team: Inside Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter to get exclusive access and unparalleled insight. Football NewsletterJoin the Miguel Delaney inside Football Aryna Sablalenka, the top seed in WTA Finals, won her first match with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini. Coco Gauff, defending champion of Riyadh, struggled to win with her double faults and Jessica Pegula defeated her with a 6-3 6-7(4) 6-6-2. Sabalenka (who won the US Open in this year) landed eleven aces, and frustrated Paolini, as she grew more tired.”It doesn’t matter what the score is, I know I must stay focused.” Sabalenka stated that if you give Paolini an opportunity, she will control the game. This was after her 500th match and 60th victory of the season. “I felt calm, focused and in control.”I was focused, I was calm and it feels like everything is in control.” Pegula took the first set after Gauff’s double faults. She saved two set-points, but the set was decided by Pegula in the final game. Gauff won the first set in a tiebreak. She broke to take a 5-4 advantage, but then committed two double-faults. Pegula regained the lead to make it 5-5. Pegula took the tiebreak to win the set. Gauff was unable to win a game in this match, with 75 unforced mistakes.Coco’s a champion, a good friend and a fierce competitor. It’s never easy to play her. I did my best today, and I executed where I could,” Pegula explained.
2025-11-02 19:09:36
Aryna Sabalenka dominates Jasmine Paolini to reach career milestone at WTA Finals
