Paolini Defeats Bencic in Marathon Match, Inches Closer to WTA Finals Qualification

Jasmine Paolini secured a hard-fought victory over Belinda Bencic in a grueling 3-hour, 22-minute quarterfinal match at the AUX Ningbo Open today, bringing her within one win of guaranteeing a spot in the WTA Finals Riyadh.

The Italian overcame a set and a break down twice to defeat the No. 6 seed 5-7, 7-5, 6-3. This extended battle, the longest match of Paolini’s season, puts her in a strong position to qualify for the year-end championships, a tournament featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams of the season. Elena Rybakina also advanced to the semifinals with a dominant 6-2, 6-0 win over qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic, keeping her own Finals hopes alive.

Paolini’s path to Riyadh is now clear: a win in the semifinals against Rybakina will confirm her place in the prestigious event. “Of course it’s in my mind, but when I step on court I try to think about the tennis,” Paolini said after the match. “If I want to qualify, I have to play good matches, I have to win matches. It’s not easy, but I try to focus on my tennis and let’s see what happens.” Rybakina, however, acknowledged that even a title this week won’t guarantee her qualification, stating she needs continued success next week as well. You can find the full Ningbo Open scores and draws on the WTA official website.

The match was a test of endurance, with Bencic requiring a medical timeout late in the third set. The lengthy encounter is one of 47 tour-level matches this season to exceed three hours, according to the WTA. Ekaterina Alexandrova also secured her position as an alternate for the WTA Finals after defeating McCartney Kessler 6-3, 6-3. For more information on the WTA Finals qualification process, visit the official WTA Finals page.

Officials confirmed that the semifinal match between Paolini and Rybakina will determine the final qualifying scenarios, with Mirra Andreeva also remaining in contention depending on next week’s results.