Overview
- Jelena Rybakina routed Iga Swiatek 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 for her second win in two matches, strengthening her push for a first WTA Finals semifinal.
- Aryna Sabalenka began her campaign with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Jasmine Paolini and is assured of finishing the year as No. 1.
- Defending champion Coco Gauff dropped her opener to Jessica Pegula 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 2-6, complicating her path out of the group stage.
- The season-ending event in Riyadh features the top eight players split into round-robin groups and carries $15.5 million in prize money.
- Sabalenka confirmed her entry for April’s Stuttgart WTA 500, which tournament director Markus Günthardt called a ‘great compliment’ to the event.