RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-5 on Monday to advance to the semifinals of the WTA Finals and claim her second straight victory in the group stage.

Top-seeded Sabalenka advanced after taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, then saved two set points in the second set to advance among the top eight seeds at the year-end tournament.

Sabalenka will face Elena Rybakina, who was eliminated on Wednesday, in the last group match of the week.

Sabalenka has won 22 of her last 23 matches and three of her last four tournaments.

Another round-robin win would secure him the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time in his career.

In the other match of the Purple Group, Zheng Qinwen preserved her chance of promotion by defeating Rybakina with sets of 7-6 (4), 3-6 and 6-1.

This was Zheng’s first career win over Rybakina in three tries.

Rybakina is 0-2 and unable to advance to the semifinals. While losing to Paolini on Saturday, Sabalenka earned a decisive victory over Zheng in her opening match in Saudi Arabia.

Zheng and Paolini will play each other on Wednesday, with the winner advancing to their first WTA Finals semi-final to face the winner of the Orange Group.