WTA roundup: Elena Rybakina rolls into Ningbo final

Field Level Media|published: Sat 18th October, 10:57 2025

Elena Rybakina returns a serve to Iga Swiatek in the Cincinnati Open women’s singles semifinals, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Oh. Swiatek won 7-5, 6-3.

No. 3 seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and No. 4 Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia cruised into Sunday's final of the Ningbo Open in Ningbo, China.

Rybakina knocked out No. 2 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 29 minutes. Rybakina struck 10 aces, won 88% of the points on her first serve and saved all seven break points to reach the WTA 500 final.

Rybakina is just 1-3 against Alexandrova, who advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 defeat of compatriot Diana Shnaider, the No. 7 seed, in one hour and 32 minutes. Alexandrova saved eight of 10 break points to help offset a half-dozen double faults.

Japan Open

Czech teenager Tereza Valentova advanced to her first WTA Tour final and will take on No. 4 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada on Sunday in Osaka.

Valentova rallied to defeat Romania's Jaqueline Cristian 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3 in two hours and 43 minutes. The 18-year-old qualifier withstood seven aces by Cristian and fought off seven of 11 break points.

Fernandez will be playing for her fifth title and second of the year after her triumph in Washington, D.C., in July. She outlasted Romania's Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 in just under two hours in Saturday's other semifinal at the WTA 250 tournament.

--Field Level Media