The hum of the crowd, the echo of bouncing balls, and the tension on the court—it’s a scene Elena Rybakina knows all too well. But as she steps into the Ningbo Open semifinals against Jasmine Paolini, there’s more than just a match at stake. For the Kazakh star, it’s a moment of reflection, strategy, and planning for the road ahead.

Currently ranked ninth in the world, Rybakina had a mix of ups and downs this season. Although she made quite a few long runs this year, her only title triumph came at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. Her performances at the major tournaments were pretty ordinary this year, but guess what? She has now made it to the semifinals for the seventh time this season! After a hard-fought battle against Dayana Yastremska in the R16, Rybakina took down Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović in the QF by 6-2, 6-0.

With this win, she has not only secured her 50th win of the season, but Elena Rybakina has now also kept her WTA Finals hopes alive. Does Rybakina feel any added pressure with all the permutations and combinations related to her qualifying in the year-ending championship? In her post-match press conference, the Kazakh star said, “I won’t say it’s pressure. Of course it would be nice to qualify. But I know for this I still need to win a lot of matches. Not only here, but also next week.”

Talking about her goals for the rest of the season, she added, “I just try to finish the season as best as possible. Most important is to stay healthy. The season has been very long. Not that successful for me. But I still think it’s been pretty decent. Just important to stay healthy and be ready for the next one.”

If we take a look at the blockbuster SF clash between world numbers 8 and 9, Jasmine Paolini currently has a fine edge over Elena Rybakina in the H2H record (3-2). But the equation for qualifying for the WTA Finals is pretty simple. If Rybakina wins, she will beat a direct rival and improve her chances of making it to Riyadh. But if she loses to Paolini, her chances of making the WTA Finals for the third time in a row will take a major hit.

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So, with already six spots booked (which features four Americans—Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys), two spots are still up for grabs. Elena Rybakina needs to win the title this week to stay alive. But if Jasmine Paolini wins the Ningbo Open, her spot is secured. So, there’s a lot at stake in this epic duel! What else did she say after her impressive performance against Tomljanovic, though?

Elena Rybakina is quite impressed with her performance against Ajla Tomljanović

Elena Rybakina’s lethal serves have been the talk of the town for quite some time. She has played close to 70 matches this season and hit 419 aces. In August this year, while talking about her incredible serving abilities, former pro CoCo Vandeweghe compared Rybakina’s serves with Serena Williams’s.

After Rybakina’s win against Aryna Sabalenka in the QF of the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Vandeweghe said, “I think with the serve, not only do you have to have the free point ability, which she does, but you also have to have that clutch factor.” Rybakina fired 11 aces in that match. While sharing more of her thoughts on the Kazakhstani star’s incredible skill, she further added, “And we were talking about that; when I was playing, it was Serena Williams, if she needed an ace, she was pulling it out of her back pocket, facing break point down. And we were watching Elena Rybakina do that time and time again against Aryna Sabalenka, so I’m choosing Rybakina.”

Even fellow tennis experts on Tennis Channel, like Chanda Rubin and Lindsay Davenport, gave a nod to CoCo Vandeweghe’s statements on Rybakina. Now, here again at the Ningbo Open, Rybakina has been phenomenal with her serves. She has already hit 17 aces, combining both of her previous matches.

So, while sharing her thoughts about her performance in the QF, she first mentioned, “Today I think I served well. It’s not easy to play Ajla. Today, a lot of things went my way. Also, some lines which I caught. Overall happy I won in straight sets. Looking forward for tomorrow.” She also thanked the crowd for their incredible support throughout the match.

Just a few months ago, her ex-coach, David Sanguinetti, set a goal for Elena Rybakina for the 2026 season. In an interview with Super Tennis TV, he said that he hopes Rybakina finishes the year as world number six, but having said that, he also wants her to become world number one in 2026.

Now, with a handful of tournaments left in this season, it’ll be interesting to see how well she wraps up this season. But do you think Rybakina has the potential to surpass Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff to become a real contender for the top spot in the women’s singles ranking?

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Edited by

Shrabana Sengupta