World No. 7 Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a set right down to beat second-ranked Ons Jabeur on Monday as round-robin play started on the season-ending WTA Finals.
Sabalenka shook off an error-strewn begin to beat the Tunisian, a finalist at each Wimbledon and the US Open this 12 months, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas.
“I think it’s the biggest win of the season for me,” mentioned Sabalenka, who was a semifinalist within the WTA’s season finale final 12 months however has endured a disappointing 2022 marketing campaign.
“She played unbelievably and somehow another miracle happened for me and I was able to win this match.”
Sabalenka needed to dig deep to enhance her report in opposition to Jabeur to 3-1.
Jabeur, making her WTA Finals debut, was two factors away from victory at 5-3 within the second set tiebreaker, and she or he had two possibilities to interrupt for a 5-2 lead within the third.
But Sabalenka held on, breaking Jabeur at like to degree the set at 4-4 and capturing the victory when Jabeur netted a forehand on the primary match level.
“I didn’t feel welcome on this court,” Sabalenka mentioned of her early struggles. “I could not perceive what was taking place, the ball was bouncing too gradual for me.
“Then in the second set, I kind of calmed down and tried to think what I had to do to win this match.”
Greece’s fifth-ranked Maria Sakkari, aiming to enhance on a semifinal look within the occasion final 12 months, defeated third-ranked American Jessica Pegula 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) within the different Nancy Richey Group encounter.
In a rematch of the WTA Guadalajara remaining gained by Pegula eight days earlier, she and Sakkari traded six service breaks within the opening set, Pegula twice recovering a break earlier than Sakkari put it away within the tiebreaker.
After pocketing the primary, Sakkari raced to a 3-0 lead within the second set earlier than Pegula, who survived match factors to win 3 times this season, broke again to trim the deficit to 3-2.
Pegula saved a pair of match factors in opposition to her serve within the twelfth recreation to drive the tiebreaker, the second with a stinging backhand winner.
But Sakkari sealed it on her third alternative when Pegula’s effort discovered the web.
“It’s never easy against Jess,” mentioned Sakkari, who improved to 4-2 in opposition to the American.
“She’s an amazing player. She’s very confident right now. I knew it was going to be extremely tough but I fought hard and trusted my game.”
Sakkari mentioned she knew from prior encounters with Pegula that she needed to be aggressive.
“If you’re passive, Jess is just going to make you run. She’s going to hit the ball very hard, and it’s over,” Sakkari mentioned.
