Overview

• Jasmine Paolini defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-2, 7-5 at the Ningbo WTA 500 to advance to the quarterfinals.
• She will face Belinda Bencic next, with the quarterfinal scheduled for Friday in Ningbo.
• Paolini sits eighth in the WTA Race with 4,238 points, narrowing the gap to seventh and widening her cushion over Elena Rybakina.
• Mirra Andreeva was eliminated in the Ningbo second round and remains on 4,320 Race points, tightening the battle for qualification.
• A run to the final in Ningbo could clinch Paolini's place in Riyadh, or a semifinal may suffice if Rybakina exits earlier.