Get ready, tennis fans! Chinese mainland's star player, Zheng Qinwen, is set to face her fierce rival, Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus, in the Purple Group at the WTA Finals starting this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After an exceptional year in 2024, where Zheng clinched victories at the Palermo Ladies Open, Paris Olympic Games, and the Pan Pacific Open, she secured her spot in the WTA Finals as the No. 7 seed. Her journey has been nothing short of inspiring, making her a player to watch closely.
This upcoming match marks the fifth showdown between Zheng and Sabalenka, with Sabalenka holding a 4-0 edge in their head-to-head encounters. Their latest clash was at the Wuhan Open final, where Sabalenka triumphed 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to take home the trophy. Can Zheng turn the tide this time?
Joining them in the Purple Group are Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina and Italy's Jasmine Paolini. While Zheng has faced challenges against Rybakina, losing both matches so far, she remains undefeated against Paolini with a 3-0 record.
Meanwhile, the defending champion Iga Swiatek from Poland competes in the Orange Group alongside Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula from the U.S., as well as Barbora Krejcikova from the Czech Republic. With Sabalenka having won two Grand Slam titles this year—the Australian Open and the U.S. Open—and Swiatek dominating the French Open, the competition is heating up!
The top two players from each group will advance to the semifinals on November 8, with the finals set to crown the WTA champion on November 9. Who will rise to the occasion and take home the coveted title? Stay tuned to find out!
