WTA Finals Countdown: Analyzing the Fierce Battle for the Last Two Spots

The tennis season nears its climax with the race for the final two spots at the PIF WTA Finals in Riyadh intensifying. Three contenders—Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Elena Rybakina—are fiercely competing for these coveted positions. They are currently separated by just 407 points in the WTA Race standings.

Race for Riyadh

Mirra Andreeva enters the week’s events as a prime contender. With 4,320 race points and a 2025 record of 40 wins and 15 losses, Andreeva aims to secure her place in Riyadh by winning in Ningbo. She stands as the top seed in Ningbo, with a challenging draw that could open with Emma Raducanu and potentially include matches against No. 7 seed Diana Shnaider or the winner between Karolina Muchova and Marketa Vondrousova. A victory in Ningbo guarantees her qualification, regardless of her rivals’ outcomes.

Paolini and Rybakina’s Challenges

Meanwhile, Jasmine Paolini, positioned with 4,131 race points, has set her sights on securing a place through a strong performance. Following a semifinal appearance in Wuhan, Paolini aims for at least another semifinal in Ningbo, barring confrontation with Rybakina, to solidify her spot. She is seeded No. 2 and will face either Veronika Kudermetova or wild card Zhang Shuai first.

Elena Rybakina, with 3,913 points, finds herself needing a significant result to move up. As the No. 3 seed, she must at least reach the semifinals in Ningbo to gain the necessary points. A title win may propel her above Paolini if circumstances favor her.

Securing Alternate Spots

Beyond the main contenders, Ekaterina Alexandrova is positioned strongly to capture an alternate spot, with 3,158 points. Scheduled to compete in Ningbo and Tokyo, she stands as the third-oldest player making her WTA Top 10 debut at age 30.

• Ekaterina Alexandrova: 3,158 points, 43-22 record, 1 title (Linz)
• Clara Tauson: 2,770 points, 36-21 record, 1 title (Auckland)
• Belinda Bencic: 2,469 points, 32-16 record, 1 title (Abu Dhabi)

Clara Tauson and Belinda Bencic aim for alternate spots too. Tauson, with the No. 5 seed in Ningbo, faces Ajla Tomljanovic first. Bencic, ranked 14 with 2,469 points, seeks two strong finishes in the final tournaments to advance her bid.

Conclusion

The final stages of the season will see heightened competition as players strive for spots at the WTA Finals. The outcome in Ningbo and the following tournaments will ultimately determine who secures a place in Riyadh, adding further excitement as the tennis year draws to a close.