Elena Rybakina Triumphs Over Jasmine Paolini in Ningbo Semifinals

Ningbo, China – Elena Rybakina kept her hopes of participating in the WTA Finals alive by defeating Jasmine Paolini in straight sets during the semifinals of the 2025 AUX Ningbo Open on Saturday. Rybakina, who faced significant pressure, won the match 6-3, 6-2 in just 1 hour and 29 minutes, securing her spot in the final.

This victory marked Rybakina’s second final appearance of the season. The stakes were high, as Paolini could have clinched her place in the WTA Finals with a win. Instead, it was Rybakina who shook off her recent semifinal struggles to advance.

“I’m really happy with how I played today,” Rybakina expressed after the match. “I knew how important this match was for both of us.” Rybakina’s strong serving and tactical play helped her dominate the match, overcoming the tension that comes with competing for a spot in the prestigious year-end tournament.

Paolini, who had just won one of the longest matches of her career in the quarterfinals against Belinda Bencic, was initially overwhelmed by Rybakina’s performance. Paolini commented, “It was tough today; Elena played very well. I had my chances but couldn’t convert them.”

The match was crucial in the context of The Race to Riyadh, with both players vying for one of the last spots in the WTA Finals. Rybakina’s victory leaves her with hopes for the upcoming Toray Pan Pacific Open, where she will seek to secure her place further.

With this win, Rybakina’s journey continues at the Ningbo Open, and fans anticipate her performance in the final.