Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WTA Finals Riyadh match.
The final tournament of the WTA in Riyadh promises a thrilling contest between world number one Aryna Sabalenka and seventh-ranked Qinwen Zheng. For the Belarusian star, it's an opportunity to strengthen her status at the top of the global rankings, while for the Chinese player, it's a chance to showcase her progress and aim for a victory against the strongest competition. However, given the exceptional form of the Belarusian athlete, this will be a tough task.
Aryna Sabalenka
Sabalenka has enjoyed an outstanding season, capturing Grand Slam titles in Melbourne and New York, as well as securing significant victories in Cincinnati and Wuhan. Her hard court record this year is impressive (38-7), with 20 victories in her last 21 matches. The Belarusian powerhouse relies on her formidable shots and high tempo, putting relentless pressure on any opponent, and maintaining a high level of aggression throughout her matches.
Qinwen Zheng
Qinwen, who claimed titles in Palermo and Tokyo this year, is making her debut at the WTA finals. Her strategy revolves around powerful groundstrokes and a rapid serve, although her service accuracy could improve (53%). The Chinese player's game is characterised by aggression, but she often makes mistakes against top-tier opponents. In head-to-head encounters, Zheng has always fallen to Sabalenka (four losses), with three of those matches featuring a total under 17.5.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng Prediction
Sabalenka possesses considerable experience in such prestigious tournaments and approaches this match with confidence, while Qinwen, despite her progress, struggles against powerful adversaries. Historically, the Belarusian has defeated the Chinese player with a margin of several games, and her advantage appears clear in this matchup as well. Therefore, we predict a commanding victory for the Belarusian, with a limited number of games, safeguarding against the eventuality of a tiebreak.
