Jasmine Paolini advanced to the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 2025 AUX Ningbo Open on Thursday, inching closer to a coveted spot at the WTA Finals. She was joined in the last eight by top seeds Elena Rybakina and Ekaterina Alexandrova, both of whom secured their own victories on Day 4. Notably, McCartney Kessler achieved an impressive upset by eliminating No. 8 seed Liudmila Samsonova from the tournament.
Paolini, the tournament’s No. 2 seed, showcased her skills against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova, winning the match with a score of 6-2, 7-5. With this performance, the Italian player is now just a couple of matches away from solidifying her entry into the WTA Finals in Riyadh. To secure automatic qualification, she needs to reach the tournament’s final over the weekend. However, should Rybakina exit before the semi-finals, only a place in the last four would suffice for Paolini.
In her upcoming quarter-final match, Paolini will face Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the No. 6 seed, who currently holds a 2-1 advantage in their career meetings. Emphasizing her determination, Paolini stated in a post-match interview, “I’m trying to focus on the court, on the next one. It’s something on my mind, of course, but I try to stay focused on tennis, and what I have to do.”
Throughout her encounter with Kudermetova, Paolini displayed a strategy of controlled aggression, managing to land an impressive 75% of her first serves. She finished with 14 winners compared to 17 unforced errors, while Kudermetova struggled with her service game, achieving just a 55% first-serve rate and recording 38 unforced errors against 22 winners. Kudermetova initially gained an early lead in both sets, breaking Paolini’s serve, but she quickly lost those advantages due to a string of errors, culminating in her surrendering a match point with a third double fault.
Reflecting on her performance, Paolini noted, “I managed to stay there, every point, stay focused and try to find solutions,” improving her head-to-head record against Kudermetova to 4-2 overall, and 2-0 this season, following her recent victory at the Cincinnati semi-finals.
Elena Rybakina, seeded third, also demonstrated resilience as she battled through a physically demanding match against Dayana Yastremska, ultimately winning 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 after nearly three hours of play. The match showcased Rybakina’s grit, particularly as she overcame challenges from Yastremska, who matched her in many aspects, especially during the second and third sets. Rybakina’s serve, while below her usual standard at 52%, proved effective during critical points—especially on second serves, where she won an impressive 92% in the final set.
Despite a shaky beginning and facing a break point in the deciding set, Rybakina’s strong second serve was a crucial factor in her victory, allowing her to break for a 4-2 lead before sealing the match with her 10th ace. Post-match, she expressed her relief and gratitude for the support of the crowd, saying, “It was a long day. The conditions, with it being so humid, are unusual for us. But I’m very happy I managed to win, and thank you all so much for staying and supporting me.”
In the quarter-finals, Rybakina will face off against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, who is currently in good form. Rybakina leads their head-to-head rivalry 2-0, with their last meeting at Wimbledon 2022, where she came from behind to capture her first Grand Slam title.
Ekaterina Alexandrova, the fourth seed, also moved on with a solid 6-3, 6-3 victory over wild-card entrant Yuan Yue of China. Alexandrova is set to meet Kessler in the next round, who made headlines by defeating eighth-seeded Samsonova 7-6(5), 6-1. Kessler’s victory showcased her remarkable ability to recover after initially leading 5-1 in the first set only to lose five games in a row before rallying to clinch the first set in a decisive tiebreak.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the quarter-finals, where the stakes are high for players pursuing a chance at the WTA Finals.
