2025 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo Open, China,
Round of 16 matches,
Thursday 16th October,

Samsonova (8) vs Kessler
Paolini (2) vs Kudermetova
Alexandrova (4) vs Yuan
Rybakina (3) vs Yastremska

 

[kskate2]

It will be tough for Mirra to qualify. Jaz and Elena entered both 500 tourneys and can only go up from here as the teen queen is already bounced out

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It will be tough for Mirra to qualify. Jaz and Elena entered both 500 tourneys and can only go up from here as the teen queen is already bounced out

I think that was Mirra's last tournament I dont think she is entered into the final WTA500 tournament I will double check.
Unless Mirra wants to take a wild card into WTA500 Japan, Ningbo WTA500 was her last tournament, though she and Shnaider have qualified for the end of year Doubles Tournament.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo Open,
Results of Round 16 matches
Thursday 16th October,

Kessler d Samsonova (8) 76(5) 61
Paolini (2) d Kudermetova 62 75
Alexandrova (4) d Yuan 63 63
Rybakina (3) d Yastremska 64 67(6) 63

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Emma Raducanu has decided to shut down her 2025 season, due to illness she was entered to play 2 tournaments
Colour Me Surprise she will keep working with her coach Roig next season !

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo Open, China,
Friday 17th October,
QF matches,

Paolini (2) vs Bencic (6)
Alexandrova (4) vs Kessler
Rybakina (3) vs Tomljanovic
Shnaider (7) vs Zhu

 

[PhiEaglesfan712]

Emma should dump Roig, and bring back Mark Petchey. She had a good thing going, although it was a bit of a small sample size.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mark Petchy already stated he could not work with Emma Raducanu full time, because of his commentary commitments!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Japan Open, due to a leg injury she sustained in the QFs
Jaquelina Cristian advances to the SFs

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

On her second attempt of serving out the 1st set, Bencic wins 75 against 2nd seed Paolini, in the QFS at Ningbo Open, China
Paolini levels the match with a 75 win in the 2nd set
Going 3
Bencic served for the match, Jamine dug deep and fought back to win 57 75 63

 

[Hoergren]

A pair of gladiators just finished with a hard fought win to Paolini over an exhausted Bencic - bravo. Again an intense match in Ningbo - well it took #only# 3h 22m

2nd match was shorter but also a nice match to watch - look at the number of breakpoints - Alexandrova had to work hard

3rd qf was with a quality win for the acequeen of 2025 Elena Rybakina

Last qf Lin ran out of steam and maybe had a bit trouble with her arm which kept her out of competition earlier this year so Sasha Bajins protege Diana Schnaider won and played well the last two sets - all in all a very good day of tennis - watching them all.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo Open, China,
SF Matches,
Saturday 18th October,

Paolini (2) vs Rybakina (3)

Alexandrova (4) vs Shnaider (7)

Note:
Elena, Jasmine and Andreeva ( who was eliminated from Ningbo) are battling it out for the last 2 spots for WTA Finals in Riyadh

Jasmine v Elena match will be very big in terms of deciding who reaches the WTA Finals. Jasmine leads their H2H 3-2 and won their last 2 meetings

At present,
7. Paolini 4325
8. Andreeva 4320
9. Rybakina 4000

Elena likely needs to win the title to stay alive, if Jasmine wins her semi final match against Elena she will qualify for the WTA Finals

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just tuning into the 1st SF at Ningbo,
1st SF Paolini v Rybakina the roof is closed due to the rain.
If Jaz wins this SF she qualifies for the WTA Finals.
Elena won the toss and will serve first
Interested to see how much Jaz has left in the tank after her long 3 sets win against Bencic yesterday in the QF.

A long game and Elena gets the break, Jaz 2nd serve needs to be address ASAP, at present it is looking like a tired shot and can be easily broken.
Elena to serve for the 1st set 5-3.
Rybakina wins the 1st 63, 7 aces, Elena hitting her serve and spots well on the court
Rybakina W 21 UFE 9, Paolini W 20 UFE 16

Elena gets a early break in the 2nd set, again Jaz 2nd serve has let her down.
Elena consolidates, her bhand has been on fire today and she has only lost 3 points so far on serve
Elena leads 4-2 2nd set, also one of my favorite umpires The Voice aka Kader Nouni is in the chair.
Rybakina breaks Jaz with a bhand winner and will serve for the match at 5-2
Shaky serving out the match, down love 40 though Elena fought back to win 63 62,
Well done Elena.
Jazz will still have chances next week when she plays WTA500 Pan Pacific to qualify for the WTA finals
Elena stays alive and will boost her chances if she can win the title in Ningbo.

 

[Hoergren]

Paolini bites the just - not playing bad but her opponent Rybakina played flawlessly - apart from her ending difficulties - another 10 aces

 

[Hoergren]

And the second finalist is Alexandrova who played a good match and Shnaider looked a little out of steam but did her best - yeah another good match - looking forward to the final tomorrow.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

18 yo Tereza Valentova is into her maiden career final in Osaka. The former RG girls champion will face Leylah Fernandez for the title.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Ningbo, China,
Sunday 18th October,

Ladies Doubles Final,
Babos/Stefani (4) vs Melichar-Martinez/Samsonova

Ladies Singles Final,
Rybakina (3) vs Alexandrova (4) Alexandrova leads their H2H 3-1

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Mirra Andreeva decided not to play next week as she was still in contention for the WTA Finals in singles ( Andreeva has qualified with her partner Shnaider for the WTA Doubles Final) which means,

Paolini has qualified for the WTA Singles Final ( Paolini has also qualified for the WTA Finals in Doubles with her partner Sara Errani).

Rubakina depends on herself to qualify, needs to win the tile in Ningbo tomorrow, and SFs next week in Tokyo or a title next week if she loses tomorrow

 

[kskate2]

Mirra Andreeva decided not to play next week as she was still in contention for the WTA Finals in singles ( Andreeva has qualified with her partner Shnaider for the WTA Doubles Final) which means,

Paolini has qualified for the WTA Singles Final ( Paolini has also qualified for the WTA Finals in Doubles with her partner Sara Errani).

Rubakina depends on herself to qualify, needs to win the tile in Ningbo tomorrow, and SFs next week in Tokyo or a title next week if she loses tomorrow

Jaz and Diana both out of steam w/ long QF matches. Both put up a good fight, but their opponents were better. Elena kills me. She'll play great to get to the WTA finals and then lay an egg in the RR. We'll see if she gets there. Ekaterina is a tough customer and Elena has a losing record.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Jaz and Diana both out of steam w/ long QF matches. Both put up a good fight, but their opponents were better. Elena kills me. She'll play great to get to the WTA finals and then lay an egg in the RR. We'll see if she gets there. Ekaterina is a tough customer and Elena has a losing record.

Elena was shaky serving out the match against Jaz down love 40 but recovered thanks to her good serving
Elena needs to win the title to stay in contention for the WTA finals,