RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka turned in a dominant serving performance in her first WTA Finals match Sunday, producing 10 aces and defeating No. 8 Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-1.
Sabalenka made four aces in the final game of the first set alone and completed 82.7% of her first serves overall.
The match, which was Sabalenka’s 500th match at WTA level, lasted 70 minutes.
“I felt focused, calm and everything was under control,” Sabalenka said.
On Saturday, Sabalenka was awarded a trophy for finishing the year in first place.
“I’m very happy and very proud of how well my work has gone so far. I’m getting better every day,” she said. “And we just keep doing what we’re doing and hopefully stay there.”
The final tournament of the season for the top eight players of the year begins with a round robin match between two groups of four women each. The top two from each group advance to the semifinals.
“I look at this tournament as a regular tournament, where I have to win five matches to win the title,” Sabalenka said. “So I’m just trying to play my best tennis and fight for every point.”
In the same group, Jessica Pegula defeated defending champion Coco Gauff 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-2 in the All-American match.
Gauff once again struggled with her serve, committing 12 double faults, including one that handed her former doubles partner Pegula the first set.
Gauff failed to serve out twice in the second set before ultimately winning the tiebreaker. On her second chance, she made three consecutive double faults and was broken again by Pegula, sending the match to a tiebreak.
Three weeks ago, Gauff defeated Pegula in the final of the Wuhan Open in China.
“Coco is a great champion, a great competitor and a good friend, so it’s always tough to play against her,” Pegula said. “I don’t think there are any secrets in this group of girls.”
Saturday’s opening match was won by Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
Also on Saturday, Paolini and partner Sara Errani won their opening doubles match.
