Jasmine Paolini begins WTA Finals with a smile

Jasmine Paolini begins WTA Finals with a smile

Fresh world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini is off to a great start at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, beating Russian-Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina, No. 5, in her debut match with a score of 7-6 6-4 in one hour and 45 minutes of play.

Jasmine è the first to save a break point at 2-2, then breaks Rybakina in the sixth game suffering for’the immediate counterbreak. Then two more break points saved by the’azure, one on 4-4 and one on 5-5, and then it goes to the tie-break, which the Tuscan wins 7-5 on the fourth set point after being 6-2.

In the first game of the second set Rybakina immediately has to save two consecutive break points, Paolini one in the next. The decisive break for the Italian came at 3-3 and in the next two service turnovers Jasmine lost only two points closing the match at the first match point.

“I’m really happy – said an as usual beaming Jasmine at the end of the match, here all matches are complicated, playing against Elena who serves soì well is not è easy but I’m flice of the victory. I served well and I am happy with how I started the different points. Frazie to everyone for the support and I see that there are also many Italians!”.

On Monday, the 28-year-old from Tuscany will face No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, the Belarusian è leading together with her in the Purple Group thanks to the victory over China’s Qinwen Zheng, also in two sets.