By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 2, 2025
Photo: Matthew Stockman/Getty for WTA
Aryna Sabalenka has treated autumn as a festive season.
Today, Sabalenka raised the party in Riyadh.
Contesting her 500th tournament-level match, Sabalenka broke through Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-1 to open her quest for the WTA Finals with a statement win.
Sabalenka, who secured ranking no. 1 at the end of the season, grabbed 11 aces against no double faults and dropped serve just once in her 60th win of the season.
“I’m getting better and better every day,” Sabalenka said after defeating Paolini to improve to an impressive 12-4 against Top 10 opponents this season.
Top seed Sabalenka now leads the Steffi Graf Group of the round robin. Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff is playing US Open 2024 finalist Jessica Pegula in today’s second match of the Steffi Graf Group.
US Open champion Sabalenka broke Paolini’s first service game, taking a 4-1 lead. Sabalenka, who outplayed the Rome champion for most of the match, broke again for 5-3, then converted her second set point for a one-set lead.
Sabalenka went on a six match streak winning the last two opening games and racing to a 4-0 lead in the second set. She closed it out in 70 minutes, improving to 6-2 life against Paolini.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka has won 11 of her last 12 matches.
