Italian WTA Finals debutant Jasmine Paolini undertakes the return Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s Round-Robin match.

A breakthrough season for the two-time WTA Tour champion has taken her to the lofty heights of fourth place, and she aims to end the season on a positive note in Riyadh.

Match example

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Even in her wildest dreams, participation in the year-end final was not a possibility for a player who finished in the top 100 for the first time in 2019, when she finished 96th.

She finished in the same position the following season before finishing 53rd, 62nd and 30th in the following years before starting her stormy campaign in 2024.

The season was undoubtedly the best of Paolini’s career as she won her first WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai and advanced to the championship matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, falling short in the championship matches at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Iga Swaatek in the first and loses to Barbara Krejcikova at the championships.

Although the 28-year-old is without a decision since her defeat in SW19, she will aim for a third tour victory over Rybakina to start the round-robin on a winning note.

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Her opponent is a well-known figure on the tour, and her thumping serve is an undisputed weapon when she executes impeccably.

However, Rybakina’s absence from the tour has raised questions about her level ahead of the week-long competition in Riyadh, where she has not played in any capacity since the US Open.

The eight-time tour-level champion’s three titles in the first four months of the year have contributed to her second consecutive appearance in the year-end tournament, and she is aiming to improve on her 2023 group stage elimination.

The number 5 in the world announced Goran Ivanisevic‘s addition to her team on the eve of the tournament, hoping to overcome a year plagued by health problems and withdrawals by finishing strong.

Rybakina has not played competitive tennis for almost three months and faces a difficult task against this year’s darling of the WTA Tour.

Head to head

French Open (2024) – Quarterfinal: Paolini 6-2 4-6 6-4

Stuttgart (2024) – Quarter-final: Rybakina 6-3 5-7 6-3

Cincinnati (2023) – Round of 16: Paolini 4-6 5-2 ret.

Rome (2023) – Round of 64:Rybakina 7-6 6-1

Both women faced each other four times on the tour, with the head-to-head score being 2-2.

They have played two huge three-setters this season, although Rybakina’s dip since that last eight at Roland Garros has raised doubts about her level.

Paolini is 5-15 against top-10 players, with two wins in 2024 – against Our Jabeur in Stuttgart and Rybakina at the French Open.

We say: Paolini wins in two sets

Although both women have played exciting three-setters, Rybakina’s extended absence this season means she goes into the final in Riyadh with question marks.

That is why we support Paolini to win in two sets at the expense of the returning Kazakhstani.

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