Aryna Sabalenka vs Qinwen Zheng Prediction: Top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka squares off against rising star Qinwen Zheng in a high-stakes Group A showdown at the WTA Finals

It now sets up an exciting Group A opener in the WTA Finals, World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka coming up against electric Qinwen Zheng, which is scheduled for 2nd November 2024. This match will be all about power, grit, and tactical acumen. Coming into the match against Zheng in Wuhan, Sabalenka was on a five-match win streak while WTA No. 7 Zheng, with her imposing form and reputation for raising her level on the biggest stages, is a highly tantalizing clash that serves as a fair test of both players' capabilities. Aggressive in playing style, their powerful serves and relentless energy make this head-to-head a very tantalizing clash.

With Sabalenka leading their head-to-head 4-0, including the most recent 2-1 victory, Zheng will be keen to finally get one over the Belarusian powerhouse. The result will set the tone for both players in this round-robin stage, where literally every victory might prove vital for qualification. Let's dig deeper into the tactical nuances, recent form, and some performance insights that could shape this high-stakes encounter.

Sabalenka, currently topping the world rankings, is unstoppable for the last few months, taking nine of her last ten matches. The last time she faced Zheng was in the final of WTA Wuhan, and she won an exciting three-set match to show endurance and win when behind. In Wuhan, Sabalenka's serve was even more powerful, flying down seven aces and hitting a respectable 69% of first serves. That aggressive game has been offset by good defensive numbers, like saving 58% of break points-which could become a crucial factor against Zheng as well.

China's Qinwen Zheng has risen swiftly up the WTA ladder and is now a legitimate danger to the cream of the game. Zheng's victory in the WTA Tokyo final against Sofia Kenin recently underlined her ability to win matches that come with a lot of pressure. The massive 16 aces, 93% first serve points won, and saving 100% break points in that match only underlined Zheng's stats as one who is hard to break, able to sustain momentum and handle tense moments with aplomb. While Zheng has not beaten Sabalenka in any of their four meetings, the confidence and skill set have changed for a possible more significant test this time around.

The keys to victory for Sabalenka will likely come down to her serve consistency and aggressive baseline game. Her ability to generate power and hit winners on both the forehand and backhand sides keeps opponents off balance, mostly enabling her to dictate rallies. Given Zheng's much-improved return game-36% first serve return points in Tokyo-Sabalenka will have to make sure not to give Zheng too many freebies by keeping her first serve percentage high. Furthermore, Sabalenka's proficiency in converting break points-seven against Zheng in Wuhan-will be very important as Zheng has been difficult to break, saving 100% of break points in Tokyo. Sabalenka might also try to capitalize on Zheng's relative inexperience at the WTA Finals. By utilizing her heavy groundstrokes to push Zheng wide off the court, Sabalenka can create angles and make the Chinese star miscue.

The game plan of Zheng will be to nullify the power of Sabalenka and counter-attack with precise deep returns. Sometimes, Zheng might change her return position to break Sabalenka's rhythm, even inside the baseline on second serves, to put pressure early in the rally. Her recent stats underline a formidable serve, too, which could provide an added much-needed edge in holding serve with consistency. One of Zheng's most powerful tools is, in fact, great movement and patience during the middle of extended rallies, which can bring Sabalenka to falter behind her high-risk shots. The more Zheng is able to extend the rally by finding ways to use her massive forehand to get the better of Sabalenka, the more she'll be able to dictate the point on her own terms. All this said, maintaining her outstanding break point saving ability will be as crucial against Sabalenka - given how unforgiving she tends to be when opponents serve.

The key for Sabalenka will be holding consistently. She had seven aces in Wuhan, and an accuracy of 69% first serve in set the seal on her potential and capabilities of holding service games. If she continues at these numbers, most particularly on second serve, where she had 97% in Wuhan, then Zheng will indeed find it difficult to break her.

Success for Zheng of late in defending break points, saving 100% against Kenin in Tokyo, suggests she has the mental fortitude to resist the relentless pressure from Sabalenka. This knack of saving crucial points could force extended games from Sabalenka, possibly creating opportunities to wear down the Belarusian.

This gives Sabalenka a slight experience and form edge, which proves telling in tight moments. If this were to go to a deciding set, her record for closing these big matches out could be just as important. Zheng may make Sabalenka work, but in such a scenario, the latter's resilience and mental strength make her the favorite.

• Aryna Sabalenka Wins & Over 18.5 @ 1.83 Odds
• Qinwen Zheng Wins a Set @ 1.73 Odds
• Aryna Sabalenka Wins 2-1 @ 3.50 Odds