Started with a win: Jasmine Paolini © APA/afp / FAYEZ NURELDINE

Start of the WTA Finals: Jasmine Paolini impresses

The WTA finals, which will be held this year in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), began on Saturday. The Italian Jasmine Paolini (WTA 4) was able to impress in her debut, defeating the Kazakh Elena Rybakina 7:6 (5) and 6:4.

02 November 2024

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The women's season in 2024 is in the home stretch. The WTA finals will be held in the Arabian city of Riyadh in the coming days. Every year, the top 8 in the world rankings qualify for the unofficial tennis world championship. This year, the Italian Jasmine Paolini is also taking part, qualifying for this tournament for the first time. The 28-year-old was able to impress immediately on her debut. Paolini defeated the Kazakh Elena Rybakina in the first match of the group phase with a clear 7:6 (5) and 6:4.

In the first set, the Italian managed to break to 4:2, but her opponent immediately managed to rebreak to 4:3. In the end, the tiebreak decided the first round. Here, the 28-year-old was able to break her opponent's serve three times and secured the first set at the end with 7:5.

Elena Rybakina had to give way to Paolini. © APA/afp / FAYEZ NURELDINE

In the second set, the world number 4 managed another break at 4:3. After two successful service games, the debutant was able to celebrate a point in the table.