Kazakh tennis player Elena Rybakina, former Wimbledon champion, has managed to break a five-month drought by advancing to the final of the Ningbo Open, after a remarkable victory over Jasmine Paolini. Rybakina won with a score of 6-3 and 6-2 in a match that lasted 89 minutes. During the match, Rybakina connected 10 aces, although she also had to defend seven break points against Paolini, who was the second seed.
After failing to advance in the semifinals of the Citi Open, the Canadian Open, and the Cincinnati Masters in recent months, Rybakina will seek to add the Ningbo Open title to her victory at the WTA 500 clay event in Strasbourg, achieved on May 24. This victory keeps Rybakina’s hopes of participating in the WTA Finals at the end of the season alive, after Paolini lost the opportunity to secure her place in the Turin tournament on Saturday. In the final, Rybakina will face Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is currently in the top 10 for the first time in her career. Alexandrova defeated Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-3 and 6-4.I knew the match would be very difficult. Jasmine has played very well this season. She is a very tough opponent, and I knew I would have to give my best. I am happy that I stayed focused until the end and won in straight sets.
Elena Rybakina
