Paolini Defeats Bencic Eyes WTA Finals Berth with Win Over Rybakina

Jasmine Paolini triumphed over Belinda Bencic in a grueling quarterfinal match at the AUX Ningbo Open, winning 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. The match lasted an impressive 3 hours and 22 minutes and was instrumental in keeping Paolini’s hopes alive for qualifying for the WTA Finals in Riyadh.

Path to the WTA Finals

With this victory, Paolini is now just one win away from securing her place in the prestigious WTA Finals. She will face Elena Rybakina in the semifinal, who also kept her chances alive by defeating Ajla Tomljanovic 6-2, 6-0. The outcome of this semifinal will heavily influence the final qualification picture for Riyadh.

• If Paolini wins against Rybakina: She secures her spot in Riyadh.
• If Rybakina wins: The final two spots will remain open among Paolini, Rybakina, and Mirra Andreeva.

Bencic’s hopes of becoming an alternate for the WTA Finals diminished with this loss. Her defeat, coupled with Ekaterina Alexandrova’s victory over McCartney Kessler, confirmed Alexandrova’s status as an alternate.

Players’ Mental Resilience

After her match, Paolini spoke about managing the pressure of qualifying for the finals. She expressed her efforts to focus solely on her performance on the court. “If I want to qualify, I have to play good matches,” she said. Rybakina echoed similar sentiments, noting the need to win multiple matches to fortify her standings.

Match Highlights

This victory marked the longest match of Paolini’s season so far. Although she initially struggled with her performance, she rallied after being down a set and a break. The encounter is also noted as one of the longest in the WTA season overall.

• First set: Bencic produced 15 winners, claiming it 7-5.
• Second set: Paolini rallied to win from 4-5 down, ultimately winning 7-5.
• Final set: Paolini outlasted Bencic to secure the match 6-3 after her opponent showed signs of fatigue.

Following her victory, Paolini reflected on the match, stating, “It was one of the toughest matches I ever played.” She praised Bencic for her skills and noted the importance of perseverance throughout the match.

Upcoming Challenges

Paolini and Rybakina are preparing for their upcoming match in the semifinals. Both athletes are keenly aware of the stakes involved and are ready to push themselves for a chance at the year-end finals in Riyadh.