SUMMARY
- Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur were involved in a spectacular contest at the Riyadh Cup.
- Both players created a new milestone on the WTA tour by playing in the event.
The WTA tour has been continuing to impress the fans as they wait for the upcoming season. In the final event of the season, the Riyadh Cup provided the fans with the perfect end to the year. They got to see the match between Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur. Both players have had an incredible season and showcased their talents in the match at Riyadh in front of a packed crowd.
The exhibition match saw players enjoying the game in between the rallies. Sabalenka even pulled off a tweener in the second game of the match. Jabeur let out a laugh and a thumbs up while she watched her opponent flaunt her skills. “She’s so princess Diana here,” commented a fan after watching Sabalenka hugging her racket while being in a dreamy state.
she’s so princess diana here
— ethel cain disciple (@64MOTTE) December 26, 2023
🇵🇱 Aryna Sabalenka pokonała Ons Jabeur 4:6, 6:3, 6:2 podczas pokazowego spotkania w ramach Riyadh Season Tennis Cup.
🇬🇧 Aryna Sabalenka beats Ons Jabeur 4:6, 6:3, 6:2 during exhibition match in Riyadh.
📸 CANAL+ SPORT | #czasnatenis pic.twitter.com/BeCAI1GYoY
— Z kortu – informacje tenisowe | Tennis news (@z_kortu) December 26, 2023
Jabeur and Sabalenka made history as the first top-ranked players from the WTA tour to play a match in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Belarusian defeated Jabeur 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to take the trophy at Riyadh. It was their third meeting this season. Sabalenka won the quarterfinal clash in Cincinnati, while Jabeur secured a win in the semifinals at Wimbledon.
Aryna Sabalenka is ready to defend her title at Melbourne
The 2024 season saw Sabalenka finish with 55 wins and three titles. She started the season by winning her first grand slam title at the Australian Open. The world No. 2 only dropped a single set while lifting the trophy in Melbourne. She will now move to Brisbane for her first event of the new season. The Brisbane International will begin on December 31st.
The 25-year-old had won the Adelaide International this season without dropping a set. She is set to defend the first two events of the season. At the Australian Open, Sabalenka will need to defend over 2000 points and 470 points in Brisbane. She started this year with a 13-match winning streak and will need the same form next season to ensure her rankings stay the same.
#TunedIntoTennis | 12 Days of Christmas Series
Aryna Sabalenka achieved some of the big dreams she had for her tennis career in 2023. A maiden grand slam title and sitting a top the world rankings.
Will she do even better in 2024? pic.twitter.com/99F5GanWkf
— Myles David (@TunedIntoTennis) December 23, 2023
Sabalenka will now rest for a couple of days before traveling to Australia. She has had a tiring, but consistent, season. Sabalenka will hope to carry forward her grand slam success next season, as this year was a record-breaking one. Sabalenka will now be playing at the Australian Open for the seventh successive year. The fans will be waiting for more entertainment, just like they saw in Riyadh.