Overview
- Elena Rybakina beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 to claim the WTA 500 Ningbo Open, her 10th career title and second of the season.
- By winning Ningbo, Rybakina now needs to reach the semifinals at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo to clinch the final WTA Finals spot.
- Jasmine Paolini has qualified for Riyadh following Mirra Andreeva’s decision to skip next week, leaving Andreeva vulnerable to being overtaken.
- Seven places are set for the WTA Finals: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Paolini, with one berth still open.
- Alexandrova reached the Ningbo final during her top-10 debut week, while Rybakina’s late-season surge keeps the Race to Riyadh in play heading into Tokyo.