The WTA Finals is starting on Saturday, with thrilling matchups scheduled for Day 1. The tournament has always delivered incredible tennis, and fans can expect even more excitement as top seeds and rising stars compete fiercely for a spot in the semifinals. We’ll be previewing each of these highly anticipated battles at LWOT.
WTA Finals Group Stage Predictions
Jasmine Paolini vs Elena Rybakina
Head to Head: Paolini 2-2 Rybakina
In a tightly matched rivalry, World No. 4 Jasmine Paolini faces off against World No. 5 Elena Rybakina, with their head-to-head record tied at 2-2. Paolini’s year has been marked by a solid 39-18 win-loss record, headlined by a title at the Dubai Tennis Championships and runner-up finishes at both the French Open and Wimbledon. She also made a semi-final appearance at the Eastbourne International, proving her adaptability and strength across surfaces. The Italian has beaten Rybakina in their only meeting on hard courts.
Rybakina, with a 41-9 win-loss record this season, has enjoyed success on both hard and clay courts, including titles at the Stuttgart Open, Abu Dhabi Open, and Brisbane International. Unfortunately, she has not played any tennis since the US Open. Since then, a lot has happened in her professional life as she parted ways with long-term coach Stefano Vukov. Many insiders claimed that Rybakina has suffered from depression due to constant bombardment by Vukov from her box. Hence, such a high-profile match would be too early for her.
Prediction: Paolini in 2
Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng
Head to Head: Sabalenka 4-0 Zheng
The highly anticipated Day 1 of the WTA Finals will see World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka take on World No. 7 Qinwen Zheng. Sabalenka has dominated the head-to-head series with Zheng, leading 4-0, including an undefeated record against her on hard courts. The top seed’s season has been phenomenal, boasting a 54-12 win-loss record. Her stellar year includes titles at the US Open, Australian Open, Cincinnati Masters, and Wuhan Open. In addition to her title victories, she reached the finals of the Italian Open, Madrid Open, and Brisbane International, showcasing consistency across different surfaces and competitions.
Conversely, Zheng has had an impressive season, with a 49-16 win-loss record and titles at the Japan Open and Palermo Ladies Open. The 22-year-old has shown she can reach finals on big stages, as she demonstrated by making it to the Wuhan Open and Australian Open finals–not to mention winning Olympic Gold. Despite the Shiyan native formidable form, Sabalenka’s hard court record and dominance in head-to-head matchups could prove decisive.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 3
Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
