The Race to the 2025 WTA Finals just got a lot more interesting. Mirra Andreeva (who has already qualified with Diana Shnaider in doubles), Elena Rybakina, and Jasmine Paolini (who has qualified with Sara Errani in doubles) are competing for the final two spots for November’s WTA Finals singles tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Andreeva, Rybakina, and Paolini came into the Ningbo Open aware that they were in must-win situations to keep their hopes alive. Andreeva lost in the Round of 16; whereas Rybakina and Paolini kept on winning.
Rybakina and Paolini will now face off in the semifinals with the winner of the match outearning the other in points.
Rybakina 👉 Ningbo quarterfinals
She keeps her WTA Finals hopes alive 📝#NingboOpen
— wta (@WTA) October 16, 2025
Jasmine Paolini powers past Bencic to land in the semis 👏 #NingboOpen pic.twitter.com/P353b3TyU6
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 17, 2025
Who Qualifies For WTA Finals?
With her three-set win over Belinda Bencic, Jasmine Paolini overtook Mirra Andreeva.
Paolini passes Andreeva.
Pressure on Rybakina who plays later today. pic.twitter.com/0IMJM0LwFs
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 17, 2025
It is still up in the air as the Ningbo Open awards 500 points to the tournament champion.
Next week (October 20-26) is the Toray Pan Pacific Open, the final WTA 500 tournament of the season.
It could come down to this tournament, or players trying to qualify could be forced to play one of the three WTA 250 Asian hardcourt tournaments in the final week of the season (October 27-November 2).
Obviously, the players would like to fill the final two spots sooner rather than later to allow rest and training time before the WTA Finals begin on November 1.
It has been a long season with a lot of competitive and nail-biting results so it seems appropriate that the Race to the WTA Finals continues until the bitter end. Andreeva, Rybakina, and Paolini are seeking to join Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek (2023 champion), Coco Gauff (defending champion), Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, and Madison Keys at the exclusive event reserved for the top eight players of the year.
