The crowd at the Ningbo Open rose to its feet as Elena Rybakina sealed another chapter in her ever-growing legacy. Her powerful serve and unyielding composure had just earned her the title—yet what followed after the final point showed the softer side of the Kazakh star. The roar of the crowd slowly faded into a hum as she turned toward her opponent, Ekaterina Alexandrova. What came next wasn’t a celebration of dominance, but a touching exchange between two warriors who know the grind, the pain, and the beauty of the sport they live for.

Alexandrova, her opponent in this match, had fought valiantly through a taxing week. The 30-year-old Russian star, who is currently ranked 10th in the world, defeated the likes of McCartney Kessler and Diana Shnaider in the previous two matches. Looking at her overall performances in this season, where she won the title at the Linz Open and reached the finals at the Monterrey Open and the Korea Open, everyone expected her to put up a strong show against the former world number 3. And she did exactly that!

She took the first set against Elena Rybakina by 6-3, but unfortunately for the Russian, she failed to hold that lead and lost the next two sets. The match ended at 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 in favor of Rybakina. After the match, the Kazakhstani star took some time out to share a few kind words for her opponent. Rybakina said, “I want to congratulate Ekaterina for a great week and great season. I wish you good luck in the next season… It hasn’t been an easy year for all of us… Difficult schedule. I wish you all the best for the next season.”

In this match, Rybakina hit ace after ace and winner after winner. She was totally unplayable in the last two sets. This was her 10th title of her career and her second of the season, both at the WTA 500 level. 

After the match, she also thanked her team, saying, “Thank you to my team for always pushing me to be better. Especially the end of the season isn’t easy, but without you, I wouldn’t be here. Thanks again. Hopefully, we can push a little more next week.” 

In this season, Elena Rybakina has a win-loss record of 52-19, and as things stand, this win at the Ningbo Open has now opened the doors for her to give a real shot at the WTA Finals.

How can Elena Rybakina qualify for the WTA Finals?

Elena Rybakina’s journey through the 2025 season has been one of quiet power and relentless pursuit. From the booming aces that echoed through the early hard-court tournaments to her fiery performances during the clay swing, the Kazakh star has once again proved why she belongs among the game’s elite. Yet, as the season nears its final chapter, Rybakina stands at the edge of a familiar cliff—the race to the WTA Finals.

Before the Ningbo Open SF, when Rybakina was asked about the pressure surrounding the WTA Finals, she 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. 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.”

But with this title triumph, she has put herself in a much more favorable position to qualify for the WTA Finals. If she wins two matches next week in Tokyo, she will qualify for the WTA Finals. 

Elena Rybakina needs to reach the SF to overtake Mirra Andreeva, who is currently sitting in eighth place with 4319 points (Rybakina is at the ninth spot with 4305 points). Rybakina is looking to reach the WTA Finals for a third consecutive year, but she has yet to make it out of the group stage, as she won only one round robin match in both 2023 and 2024.

We’ll have to wait a bit to see if Rybakina really makes it through to the WTA Finals this year. But her performance in the 2025 Ningbo Open final did manage to earn praise from her opponent.
Speaking about Elena Rybakina’s performance in the final, Ekaterina Alexandrova said, “I want to congratulate Elena for an amazing week and the amazing game she played today. Of course, her team on the great win, and wish her luck for the end of the season and for the next year.” What are your thoughts, though, on Rybakina’s performance in this match, and do you think she can really make it to the 2025 WTA Finals?

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