Tennis player Elena Rybakina, former Wimbledon champion, broke a five-month drought by reaching 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 in China. The Russian player achieved 10 aces, but had to defend seven break points against Paolini, who was the second seed of the tournament.
After failing to advance to the final at 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 on May 24. This victory keeps Rybakina’s hopes alive of participating in the WTA Finals at the end of the season, after Paolini lost the opportunity to secure her place in the Turin tournament on Saturday. Ekaterina Alexandrova, who is in the top 10 for the first time in her career, will face Rybakina in the final after defeating Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-3 and 6-4.I knew the match would be very tough. Jasmine has played very well this season. She is a very difficult 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
