Paula Badosa stuns top-seed Sabalenka

Spain`s Paula Badosa returns the ball to Belarus` Aryna Sabalenka during the women`s singles match of the 2021 WTA Tournament Finals in Zapopan, Mexico. Pic/AFP

Paula Badosa started off slowly but won 10 games in a row to upset top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-0 in their opening match at the WTA Finals.

Sabalenka, the world's No. 2 ranked player, dominated early in the match to take a 4-2 lead, but Badosa recovered and won four games in a row to win the first set and then controlled the second with three breaks. Sabalenka, who won titles in Abu Dhabi and Madrid this season, is the first seed in Mexico because World No. 1-ranked Ash Barty of Australia decided not to defend her WTA Finals title due to continuing COVID-19 travel and quarantine restrictions.

Barty had to undergo two weeks of quarantine when she returned to her Brisbane home in September after the US Open and did not want to do the same again traveling to Mexico.

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever