In a commanding performance at the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, world number one Aryna Sabalenka defeated Maria Sakkari with a score of 6-0, 6-1. This win is pivotal for Sabalenka, who is looking to secure her top-ranking status after a remarkable season.
Despite Sakkari previously winning two out of three encounters with Sabalenka at past editions of the season finale, this time, the Greek world number nine couldn’t match the strength of her opponent. Sabalenka’s stellar performance propelled her to the top of Group A alongside American Jessica Pegula.
During the match, Sabalenka converted five out of nine breakpoint opportunities and impressively won 11 consecutive games, ultimately completing the clash in just 74 minutes.
Sabalenka praised her opponent, stating, “She’s an amazing player. She’s always fighting for every ball. I knew no matter what the score is that she would fight for it. That’s what makes her a really tough opponent. You know against Maria, any time she can come back. You give her a little bit, and she’ll take that and keep fighting. I just tried to stay in the moment.”
The Australian Open champion took over the top ranking after the U.S. Open and will retain the number one spot if she remains undefeated in round-robin play or reaches the final.
In an earlier match, Jessica Pegula displayed remarkable control by winning 10 of the last 12 games to secure a 7-5, 6-2 victory over Elena Rybakina, who struggled with unforced errors.
Pegula, seeded fifth, was able to turn the tide when Rybakina led 5-3 in the first set. Her solid return game and focus enabled her to break Rybakina and ultimately win the set by taking four consecutive games. Pegula continued to maintain her momentum, and her precise ball striking proved overwhelming for Rybakina, who accumulated 35 unforced errors during the match.
Speaking about her performance, Pegula stated, “I feel like she just made a couple careless errors, and I was able to take advantage of it at the right time and ride that momentum all the way through the second set. I thought I was returning really well, reading her serve a little bit more, and was able to play some good tennis.”
Pegula will next face the eighth-seeded Sakkari of Greece on Tuesday. The WTA Finals, taking place from October 29 to November 5, features the world’s top eight singles players and doubles teams.
