By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 2, 2025
Photo credit: Matthew Stockman/Getty for WTA
Aryna Sabalenka has treated the fall as celebratory season.
Today, Sabalenka pumped up the party in Riyadh.
Contesting her 500th Tour-level match, Sabalenka stomped Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-1 to open her WTA Finals quest with a statement victory.
Sabalenka, who has secured the season-ending No. 1 ranking, ripped 11 aces against no double faults and dropped serve just once scoring her 60th victory of the season.
“I’m getting better and better every day,” said Sabalenka after sweeping Paolini to improve to an impressive 12-4 vs. Top 10 opponents this season.
The top-seeded Sabalenka now leads the Steffi Graf Group of the round-robin event. Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff is playing 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in today’s second Steffi Graf Group match.
US Open champion Sabalenka broke in Paolini’s opening service game powering to a 4-1 lead. Sabalenka, who overpowered the Rome champion for much of the match, broke again for 5-3 then converted her second set point for a one-set lead.
Sabalenka surged through six straight games winning the last two games of the opener and racing to a 4-0 lead in the second set. She closed in 70 minutes, improving to 6-2 lifetime vs. Paolini.
The 27-year-old Sabalenka has won 11 of her last 12 matches.
