By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday October 31, 2022
Aryna Sabalenka opened her WTA Finals account with a clutch victory over second-seeded Ons Jabeur.
Photo Source: TTV
Down 4-2 in the third set and in major trouble on serve, Aryna Sabalenka produced whipsmart tennis to save a pair of break points and avoid going double break down to Ons Jabeur at the WTA Finals in Fort Worth.
It was one of those “remember that if she comes back to win” moments that happen so often over the course of a long season.
Today, Sabalenka made the moment count.
She broke Jabeur for 4-all and finished the match winning five of the final six games to claim an important win.
“I think it's the biggest win of this season for me,” Sabalenka said after her victory. “She played unbelievable. And somehow another miracle happened for me and I was able to win this match – emotions in the end show how tough it was.”
The hard-fought battle, which lasted two hours and 29 minutes, stretches Sabalenka’s winning streak against Jabeur to three victories (3-1 in total), and improves her record to 31-20 on the season.
Sabalenka, who hit 21 winners against 26 unforced errors (Jabeur hit 37 winners against 29 unforced), delivered her best tennis in the trickiest spots on Monday night. She squandered a 4-1 lead in the middle set but showed her steel with her back against the wall, winning four straight points from 3-5 down in the second-set breaker.
In the final set Jabeur threatened to pull away but Sabalenka never lost her grip.
She said it took her time to play herself into the match and the new conditions at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth.
“In the beginning, I didn't really feel well on this court, I couldn’'t understand what's going on with how the ball was bouncing; it was too slow for me but then in the second set I kind of calmed down and tried to just think [about] what I what I have to do to win this match,” she said. “I was just trying to keep moving, keep hitting the ball, keep trying to find my rhythm, and that's why I was able to turn it around.”
It has been a trying season for Sabalenka, who has been plagued by double-faults and confidence issues for long stretches, but she finds herself with a leg up at one of the biggest tournaments of the season, and has a chance to significantly change the tone of her season with a few more wins.
Score one for perseverance...
“What does not kill us makes us stronger,” the World No.7 said. “The ranking is nothing. Everytime the court you just have to show your best and then you will win your matches.
DAY 1 SINGLES STANDINGS: