WTA Finals Day 3 Predictions Including Sabalenka vs Paolini

WTA Finals Day 3 Predictions

Elena Rybakina vs Qinwen Zheng

Head-to-head: Rybakina 2-0 Zheng

Elena Rybakina and Qinwen Zheng enter this all-important second round-robin match, hoping to remain in the tournament. Victory could go a long way in boosting their chances of qualification, while defeat will probably seal their elimination. Rybakina began her campaign with a 6-7 4-6 loss against the energetic Jasmine Paolini. She actually played much better than expected after a long absence. The Kazakhstani came up short in the decisive moments and sprayed far too many errors for her liking (56 to be precise).

Zheng did not play too badly, either, against Aryna Sabalenka. She dropped her serve once in each set, which was enough to settle a tight straight-sets match. That being said, the Chinese tallied more aces and almost matched Sabalenka’s high first-serve percentage.

This tournament has come a bit too early for Rybakina. She produced some flashes of brilliance in her opening match, but the lack of match sharpness became evident as the match wore on. Zheng is more than capable of keeping things watertight on her own serve here. Attack will be the best form of defense in this match, as both players are heavy hitters. Zheng’s recent form gives her a slight edge to turn around her winless record in this matchup.
Prediction: Zheng in 3

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jasmine Paolini

Head-to-head: Sabalenka 2-2 Paolini

Two more wins will secure Sabalenka the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career. The Belarusian powerhouse produced a tidy performance in her opener against Zheng to pick up from where she left off. She won 6-3 6-4 and only lost two points behind her first serve. It’s now six wins in a row for the World No. 1, and she has only lost one of her last 22 matches. Such impressive numbers make her the clear-cut favorite for the title this week.

However, Jasmine Paolini has more than proven her mettle as an overachiever in big competitions this season. It’s tough to see anyone beating her to the accolade for being the most-improved player this season. The Italian’s robust forehand gave Rybakina a hard time on Saturday, and it’s that shot that will hold the key to her getting a result against Sabalenka. Recent history suggests this will be tight, and Sabalenka will probably need to play out of her comfort zone to counter the World No. 4’s smart ball striking and dogged defense. Still, this is something Sabalenka has done with distinction throughout the season.
Prediction: Sabalenka in 2

Main Photo Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports