Wuhan Drama: Paolini & Rybakina Keep Finals Hopes Alive

By Amelia Holt • October 10, 2025

The race for the WTA Finals is heating up, and you're at risk of missing the biggest shake-up! Paolini and Rybakina just survived crucial matches at the Wuhan Open, but the pressure is mounting. See who has the edge and what's at stake before it's too late.

Jasmine Paolini and Elena Rybakina advanced to the third round of the Wuhan Open, keeping their WTA Finals qualification hopes alive.
With only three spots left for the finals in Riyadh, Rybakina and Paolini are ranked 8th and 9th, respectively, in the intense race.
Paolini battled back from a set down to defeat local wildcard Yue Yuan in a grueling three-set match.
Rybakina secured a more comfortable straight-sets victory over Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian.

High Stakes in Wuhan as Finals Race Intensifies

The battle for the remaining spots at the season-ending WTA Finals is reaching a fever pitch, and all eyes are on the Dongfeng Voyah · Wuhan Open. Seventh seed Jasmine Paolini and eighth seed Elena Rybakina both navigated dangerous second-round matches on Wednesday, securing crucial wins that directly impact their chances of heading to Riyadh.

Paolini Overcomes Tough Challenge

Jasmine Paolini was forced to dig deep against local favorite Yue Yuan, ultimately triumphing 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. The victory not only keeps her in the hunt for the WTA Finals but also brings her to 39 main-draw wins this season, just one shy of her career-best from last year. The Italian star continues to make history, becoming one of only four Italian women to achieve 40 WTA 1000 hard-court wins.

Rybakina Cruises to Victory

In contrast, Elena Rybakina delivered a commanding performance, dispatching Jaqueline Adina Cristian 6-4, 6-3. The win moves the former Wimbledon champion closer to her 10th quarterfinal appearance of the year. The pressure remains high, as Rybakina must finish at least one round ahead of Paolini this week to protect her precarious eighth-place position in the Race to Riyadh.

What’s Next?

The fight is far from over. Rybakina now faces a tough challenge against the in-form Linda Noskova, while Paolini is set to play Denmark’s Clara Tauson. Every match counts in this thrilling conclusion to the season that fans are watching with bated breath.

Image Referance: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4378443/paolini-rybakina-advance-to-the-third-round-in-wuhan