Elena Rybakina storms past Jasmine Paolini to reach Ningbo Open Final

Elena Rybakina is one win away from her second title of the season after powering past Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in the Ningbo Open semi-final on Saturday. The victory not only earned the Kazakh star a place in Sunday’s final but also kept her hopes alive of qualifying for the WTA Finals in Riyadh next month.

Rybakina, who entered the match having lost her previous two meetings against Paolini, turned the tables this time with a dominant all-court display built on precision serving and relentless baseline power. The 2022 Wimbledon champion fired 30 winners, including 10 aces, and saved all seven break points she faced during a 90-minute performance that underlined her title credentials.

Speaking after the match, Elena Rybakina admitted she came in prepared for a battle.

“I knew the match was going to be very tough,” she said. “Jasmine has played really well this season and she’s a really tough opponent, so I knew I would need to bring my best. I’m happy I stayed focused until the end and won it in straight sets.”

The win evens their head-to-head record at 3-3, with Rybakina breaking Paolini’s serve four times while maintaining an impressive 80% success rate on first-serve points. Her controlled aggression and consistency from the baseline left Paolini scrambling to keep up throughout the encounter.

Read also: Twice as Nice: Jasmine Paolini captures Singles and Doubles glory in historic Rome triumph

Paolini Misses Early Qualification Chance

For Jasmine Paolini, Saturday’s loss was a missed opportunity. A win would have secured her spot at next month’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, but the defeat means the fight for the remaining two qualification slots will continue into next week’s Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

Paolini’s impressive 2025 season — highlighted by consistent top-10 wins and her strong clay-court results — ensures she remains in contention, though she’ll now face pressure from rising star Mirra Andreeva, who is also still mathematically in the race.

What’s Next for Rybakina

Rybakina advances to her second final of the 2025 season, where she will face either Diana Shnaider or Ekaterina Alexandrova, both of whom have impressed in Ningbo. A title win on Sunday would give Rybakina a huge ranking boost and place her in a stronger position to clinch one of the last remaining WTA Finals berths.

For Rybakina, who has struggled with injuries and inconsistent form earlier this year, this deep run signals a timely resurgence. Her serve, accuracy, and mental composure have all returned at the right moment — and her confidence seems to be building with every round.

The Race to Riyadh Heats Up

With the WTA Finals just weeks away, every point now counts. After this weekend’s action in Ningbo, the spotlight shifts to Tokyo, where Rybakina, Paolini, and Andreeva are expected to continue their battle for qualification.

For now, though, Rybakina has made her intentions clear — she wants a strong finish to the season and another trophy for her cabinet.

SportsLigue