Hey there, fellow tennis enthusiasts It’s your girl Mia Johnson-Carter here, living the dream in Miami. Today, I’m super excited to dive into some thrilling news from the WTA Finals in Riyadh. Let’s talk about Aryna Sabalenka, the reigning US Open champion who has just made history by becoming the first player to secure a semifinal spot in Riyadh.
Sabalenka’s journey to the semifinals was nothing short of impressive. She started her match against Jasmine Paolini with back-to-back breaks and a 4-0 lead, showcasing her dominance early on. Despite Paolini’s attempt to break back in the fifth game, Sabalenka remained composed and didn’t allow any additional break points in the rest of the first set. This strong start set the tone for what was to come.
However, things got a bit hairy in the second set. Sabalenka found herself 0-2 down after not realizing a game point in the second game. But she quickly resolved the issue by responding with two consecutive breaks and winning the next four games to go 4-2 up. It seemed like she had sealed the deal and would go on to complete a straight-set win. Yet, Paolini stunned everyone by winning the next three games to take a 5-4 lead, even having two set points in the 10th game. But Sabalenka managed to save them before breaking Paolini in the following game and serving out for the match in the 12th game.
This victory not only secured Sabalenka’s spot in the semifinals but also puts her in a strong position to finish the year as world No. 1. If she wins her next match against Elena Rybakina, she will finish the group with a 3-0 record and secure the Year-End No. 1 spot ahead of Iga Swiatek.
“I mean, yeah, that’s definitely one of the goals. I always been saying that for me it’s about to finish the year as world No. 1. That’s definitely one of my goals. I’ll do everything I can to finish the year as world No. 1,” Sabalenka previously said in her pre-tournament presser at the WTA Finals.
This moment is not just about Sabalenka; it’s also about the growing interest in women’s tennis. With the WTA Finals gaining more attention each year, we’re seeing more young players inspired by Sabalenka’s achievements. It’s an exciting time for our sport, and I’m loving every minute of it.
If you want, you can check out the news where I found it [here](https://www.tennisworldusa.org/tennis/news/On_the_WTA_results_with/149541/wta-finals-aryna-sabalenka-seals-sf-ticket-and-iga-swiatek-receives-bad-news-/).
Yours truly,
Mia
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