Sabalenka and Gauff Triumph in Riyadh as Djokovic Dazzles in Athens

Sabalenka and Gauff Deliver in Riyadh

Arina Sabalenka, renowned for her power, relentless consistency, and fiery on-court presence, showcased those traits at the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh. The world No. 1 battled emotions before finally sealing a 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 win over Jessica Pegula at the King Saud University indoor arena, keeping her Riyadh undefeated record intact and edging closer to the semifinals.

Sabalenka recovered from a late challenge, notably breaking to seize the third set, and she answered a renewed Pegula push with decisive aggression to take the victory.

In the second marquee match, Coco Gauff, at only 21 and the youngest in the field, defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 to stay alive in the event. Paolini was eliminated from the standings, and Gauff will now face Sabalenka in the final group-round clash on Thursday as the round-robin format tightens the race for semis.

After the win, Gauff spoke about sharpening her game and maintaining focus on first serves, acknowledging the need to win her last match to keep her semifinal dreams intact. Paolini admitted she wasn’t at full fitness and rued not being able to perform closer to her best level in Riyadh.

Gauff’s Turning Point

Gauff’s opening loss to Pegula revealed some rough edges—17 double faults and several early mistakes on serve. Against Paolini, she was markedly steadier, committing only three double faults and winning a strong share of service points, particularly on the second serve (15 of 19 points).

“I’m really happy with how I was able to adjust, three double faults is a big improvement from the 17 earlier,” she said. “It’s about returning to basics, not overcomplicating things. I might have pressed too hard in the Pegula match, so I slowed down a touch this time.”

Gauff even broke Paolini’s serve in Paolini’s opening service game. Despite facing a 0-40 deficit at one point, she steadied to take the first set and then closed out the second to seal the win.

Gauff now heads into the final Riyadh group match against Sabalenka, with a semifinal berth potentially on the line.

Numbers Backing Gauff

According to Opta, Gauff became the youngest player this season to record 10 wins against top-10 opponents, a feat last achieved by Iga Swiatek. She also joined a short list of Americans to reach 30 hard-court wins over three consecutive seasons (2023–2025), a group that includes Serena Williams in certain eras. Sabalenka, meanwhile, extended her landmark as the leading performer on tour with her 60th win at No. 1, a tally that stands at 61 wins since Serena Williams’ benchmark in 2013.

Djokovic Opens in Athens

Novak Djokovic began his Athens campaign in the 250-point event with a straight-sets victory over Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, 7-6, 6-1, advancing to the quarterfinals and setting up a clash against the winner of the S. Spione/ Borges match in the next round.

In other second-round action in Athens, Sebastian Korda defeated Damir Dzumhur in a three-set battle (4-6, 6-3, 6-3). American Mackenzie Giron overcame Pedro Martínez (6-4, 6-1). Yannick Hanfmann beat Ivan Ivanov (6-4, 6-2), and Tomás Martín Etcheverry toppled Mackenzie McDonald in a tight three-setter (6-7, 7-6, 6-3).

Djokovic’s steady start signals a busy week ahead in Athens, with the action promising late-season drama as the calendar turns toward the winter slate.

Punchlines to close
1) If serving were a dating app, Sabalenka would be getting five-star matches every night—consistently lethal and one heck of a handle on the return.
2) Djokovic in Athens proves even Olympus has a calendar—every time you think the set is over, the Greek chorus reminds you there’s another twist to come.