Rybakina Defeats Paolini to Advance to Ningbo Final and Strengthen WTA Finals Chances
Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina secured her place in the final of the Ningbo Open with a decisive victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. The semi-final match took place on October 18, 2025, at the Yinzhou Tennis Center in Ningbo, China.
Rybakina’s Victory Details
Rybakina, the tournament’s third seed, defeated Paolini with a score of 6-3, 6-2. This win is crucial for Rybakina as she aims to qualify for the upcoming WTA Finals. She displayed an impressive performance, showcasing her powerful serve and strong baseline play.
Path to the Final
In the final, Rybakina will face fourth seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. Alexandrova earned her spot by defeating Diana Shnaider in the other semi-final with a score of 6-3, 6-4. The final is scheduled for Sunday.
WTA Finals Implications
Despite her defeat, Paolini’s semi-final performance has secured her a place in the WTA Finals, joining notable players like Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek. Rybakina, alongside Mirra Andreeva, will vie for the last remaining spot in the championship event scheduled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 1 to 8, with a total prize purse of $15.5 million.
Match Highlights
The match featured several key moments:
- Rybakina broke Paolini’s serve to take a 5-3 lead in the first set.
- Both players were even at 2-2 in the second set before Rybakina broke serve once more.
- Rybakina won the last three games of the match, concluding the match in 1 hour and 29 minutes.
- Throughout the match, Rybakina hit 10 aces and recorded 30 winners.
Player Reactions
After her win, Rybakina expressed satisfaction with her performance. “I knew the match would be very tough. Jasmine played really well this season. I’m happy I stayed focused until the end and won in straight sets,” she remarked. Rybakina is enthusiastic about competing in the final and aims to deliver another strong performance.
