Aryna Sabalenka Storms To Season Milestone At WTA Finals
Aryna Sabalenka began her campaign for her first WTA Finals crown with a dominant victory over eighth seed Jasmine Paolini on Sunday. She controlled the match to claim a 6-3, 6-1 win, denying Paolini a chance to become the first Italian in ten years to defeat a world No.1 on the WTA Tour.
In the 70-minute match, the top seed dictated play with 24 winners and 11 aces. Sabalenka broke Paolini’s serve five times and was broken only once, marking her sixth Tour-level victory against the Italian opponent.
This triumph marks Sabalenka’s 60th WTA win of the season—a milestone matched only by Iga Swiatek in 2025. She now holds 52 victories over top-10 players, including 12 earned since the start of the year.
“We’ve played each other a lot and every time it’s a tough battle. Doesn’t matter what the score. I know that I always have to stay focused. If you give her a chance, she will take control of the game. I’m mostly happy with my focus today. I felt everything was under control.”
Sabalenka is competing in the prestigious year-end event for the fifth consecutive season. Her best result so far was reaching the 2022 final, where she was defeated by Caroline Garcia.
Author’s Summary
Sabalenka’s commanding victory at the WTA Finals highlights her consistency and focus, marking her 60th season win and reaffirming her dominance against top-tier opponents.