WTA Finals 2024: Zheng Qinwen & Jasmine Paolini's SF qualification scenarios after Aryna Sabalenka seals spot in Final 4
Aryna Sabalenka became the first player to book her berth in the semifinals of the WTA Finals 2024 with her 6-3, 7-5 win over Jasmine Paolini. She previously beat Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-4, and has topped the Purple Group courtesy of her two wins. She has also advanced to the semifinals of the year-end championships for the third year in a row.
Sabalenka's win over Paolini also meant that Elena Rybakina's campaign will conclude in the group stage for the second straight year. She lost to the Italian in straight sets, and put up a fight against Zheng but fizzled out towards the end to lose the match in three sets.
Paolini and Zheng will now duke it out to be the second player to reach the semifinals from the Purple Group. The two will contest the final match of their group on Wednesday (November 6), and the winner will join Sabalenka in the final four. No debutant made the semifinals of the WTA Finals in the last two editions, and the winner of this match will break that trend.
The match between Sabalenka and Rybakina is far from being a dead rubber as well. The former needs another win to clinch the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. However, a helping hand from Coco Gauff could also seal the deal in the Belarusian's favor.
Aryna Sabalenka will finish as the year-end No. 1 if Iga Swiatek loses to Coco Gauff at the WTA Finals
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek are locked in a battle for the year-end No. 1 ranking at the WTA Finals for the second year in a row. Their showdown at last year's season-ending championships culminated in the Pole's crowning as the top-ranked player.
Sabalenka had a lead of 1,046 points heading into this year's WTA Finals. If she wins all three of her group stage matches, then she is assured to end the season atop the rankings regardless of her younger rival's results. Swiatek, meanwhile, finds herself in a precarious position.
Swiatek must win her second group stage match against Coco Gauff to remain in contention for the top spot. Should she lose to the American on Tuesday (November 5), then Sabalenka will continue to reign as the No. 1. It would mark her first finish atop the summit at the end of the season, and she would be guaranteed to remain on top at least until the end of next year's Australian Open.