Sabalenka on her level of play: "To be world No. 1 and play this well, it's a team effort".

Having qualified for the semi-finals of the WTA Masters after defeating Jasmine Paolini (6-2, 7-5), Aryna Sabalenka is now just one win away from locking up her place as world No.1 at the end of the season.

She will have to face Elena Rybakina, eliminated from the competition, to secure her status as the best player on the planet this year.

In a post-match interview on court, the Belarusian confessed that her entourage had a lot to do with her success: "I'm proud of myself. Not only of myself, but also of my team. To be world n°1 and to be able to play so well, it's all about teamwork.

There's a lot of work behind the scenes that nobody sees. I really appreciate them and everything they do for me.

They are a source of motivation to win on the court. They deserve to be considered the best team there is."