The boss. World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka broke the resistance of Italy’s Jasmine Paolini (N.4) 6-3, 7-5 in 1 h 30 min in the second match of the second day of the purple group of the WTA Masters, Monday in Riyadh.

This latest victory for the powerful Belarussian, following her win over Qinwen Zheng (N.7) on Saturday, dooms Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (N.5), eliminated from the race for the semi-finals after her second defeat in two matches at the Masters, against the Chinese player earlier.

In this match of extremes, between one of the tallest players on the circuit, Sabalenka (1.82 m), and one of the smallest, Paolini (1.63 m), the taller player immediately took the Italian’s serve to lead 2-0. Despite her resistance, Paolini lost the first set in 35 minutes.

The scene changed in the second set, where this time it was the Italian who took Sabalenka’s first service game to lead 2-0, on a double fault by the Belarussian. Jostled by Paolini’s speed, the new world No.1 gritted her teeth, stringing together winning returns and four games.

But at 4-3, Sabalenka was down again. Sabalenka committed two double faults and a unforced error, allowing Paolini to equalize at 4-4, then regain the lead 5-4 on her serve, and even get two set points. She managed to save them before finally winning in two sets.

Last word for Zheng against Rybakina

Earlier in the day, China’s Zheng Qinwen, Olympic champion and world No.7, beat Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (No.5) 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-1, at the end of a 2:24 match.

In the first set, Zheng saved two break points at 1-1, before taking her opponent’s serve to break 3-1, then 4-1. Rybakina stayed in the match, in turn taking Zheng’s serve on a double fault by the Chinese to come back to 3-4, then 4-4. In the deciding game, Zheng broke back 4-1 after four Rybakina errors in a row, won three set points at 6/3, and pocketed the set in almost an hour, thanks to a backhand too long by the Kazakh.

In the second set, the level went up a notch and the match gained in intensity. Both players, playing well at the same time, gave blow for blow. At 2-2, Zheng had the first break point, from which Rybakina succumbed to the power of her forehands. But the Kazakh broke immediately, also on her first break point, and then beat Zheng’s serve to take a 5-3 lead and level the score at one set all with a white game.

In the decisive set, Zheng again broke first, at 2-1, thanks to a long backhand return that left Rybakina on the spot. She confirmed this break with a white game to lead 4-1. Unlike in the first set, Rybakina was unable to come back this time, losing to the Chinese for the first time in three meetings.