The route to the semi-finals in Riyadh is easy for Paolini and Zheng

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka's straight-set win over Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen's three-set win over Elena Rybakina on Monday at the WTA Finals presented by PIF in Riyadh set the path for the Purple Group players the semi-finals have just opened. The winner of Wednesday's round-robin match between Paolini and Zheng is assured of reaching the knockout stages and qualifying second in the group behind Sabalenka.

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Winning a match to advance to the next round of a tournament is a given in a tennis player's life. But the seemingly simple scenario that Paolini and Zheng, two first-time WTA Finals participants, will face in their next match is actually more complex.

Firstly, it poses a mental challenge for Paolini in more ways than one. The exuberant Italian had reporters looking for the positive after her loss to Sabalenka, as she admitted she was disappointed she couldn't secure at least a set after She had two set points in the second set at 6:3. 7:5 defeat. A refocus on the upcoming “important” match – and on her next doubles match with partner Sara Errani on Tuesday – is crucial, she said.

But it's not just that Paolini has to play at the same event again after experiencing the wave of emotions that come with regretted missed opportunities. She also has to compete against a player she has never beaten.

She and Zheng have played three times, and although the Italian has never managed a win, two of those games went three sets – including a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win for Zheng on home soil last month in Wuhan .

“The challenge is to get the win,” said the Italian. “I mean, I've always lost to them, so it's going to be hard. But yeah, I'll try to serve well. … She pitches incredibly. I think the key is to try to come back and try to play deep and when I have the chance to attack and move them.

Zheng, meanwhile, will go into a match on a high after claiming a WTA Finals victory in three tough sets for the first time. But the Olympic gold medalist, who admitted she let her emotions get the best of her at one point against Rybakina, is hoping to block out any outside noise against Paolini.

“[It] “It's another game that you can watch like a normal tournament,” said the Olympic champion. “I just have to do my best to win the game and not think about what happened outside because I play better when I block everything. “Just focus on me and your opponent.