In a significant resurgence, former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina secured her place in the final of the Ningbo Open with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win over second seed Jasmine Paolini. This marked Rybakina’s first final appearance in five months, showcasing her resilience and skill on the court.
Rybakina dominated the match in terms of service, recording ten aces while successfully navigating through challenges, including saving seven break points against the formidable Paolini during their 89-minute encounter. Reflecting on her performance, Rybakina acknowledged the intensity of the match, stating, “I knew the match would be very tough. Jasmine has played really well this season. She’s a really tough opponent, and I knew I would need to bring my best. I’m happy I stayed focused until the end and won in straight sets.”
This achievement has revitalized Rybakina’s ambitions for the season, particularly after her recent disappointments at the semifinals in the Citi Open, Canadian Open, and Cincinnati Masters. Rybakina aims to add the Ningbo Open title to her WTA 500 title from Strasbourg earlier in May, reinforcing her competitive spirit.
With this victory, Rybakina also keeps her hopes alive for qualification to the season-ending WTA Finals in Turin, especially after Paolini’s defeat denied her the opportunity to secure her spot in the prestigious tournament.
In the final, Rybakina will face Ekaterina Alexandrova, who has recently broken into the top 10 of the WTA rankings for the first time in her career. Alexandrova reached the final by defeating Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-3, 6-4, setting the stage for an exciting championship match against Rybakina. Both players will be eager to claim the title, adding an extra layer of intensity to the upcoming showdown.
