Aryna Sabalenka (1 WTA) lost her first match at the 2024 Tournament of Champions in Riyadh on Wednesday against Elena Rîbakina (Kazakhstan, 5 WTA), while China’s Qinwen Zheng (7 WTA) won the match against Italian Jasmine Paolini ( 4 WTA).
Aryna Sabalenka. PHOTO: The Truth Archive
The Belarusian lost in three sets, 4-6, 6-3, 1-6, to the player from Kazakhstan, already eliminated from the competition, after one hour and 40 minutes. Sabalenka had four aces and committed four double faults, Rîbakina managed 6 aces and committed four double faults. Sabalenka has secured the place in the semifinals from the first position of the group.
In the other match, Zheng secured his second ticket to the semifinals after beating Paolini in two symmetrical sets, 6-1, 6-1. The Chinese woman had no less than 12 aces without committing a double fault, the Italian failing an ace and making a double fault.
Sabalenka and Zheng will find out their semi-final opponents after Thursday night’s games in the other group, where Coco Gauff is sure of participating in the penultimate act.
