Rybakina secures WTA Finals place by reaching Tokyo semi-finals.
Elena Rybakina qualifies for the WTA Finals after winning her match in Tokyo on Friday.
Tokyo – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Elena Rybakina defeated Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on Friday to advance to the Pan Pacific semi-finals in Tokyo, securing the eighth and last spot in next month’s WTA Finals.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner joins the elite field in Saudi Arabia following a great run that included a triumph at the Ningbo Open in China last week.
“It’s great to qualify and play some more matches, especially against top players,” said Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who will compete in the Finals for the third consecutive year.
“Last week, I focused on one match at a time, knowing that qualifying would be a long road,” stated the world number seven.
“In the end everything worked out pretty well.”
Rybakina will play sixth seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The number two seed made a fast start by winning the first three games against Canada’s 19-year-old Mboko on the way to sealing the first set.
The second was more closely contested with Rybakina saving a set point against the 23rd-ranked Mboko before they went to a tiebreak.
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Rybakina sent down five aces during the match and hit 23 winners to Mboko’s 17.
“It was a very difficult match, I’m really glad I managed to win in two sets,” said the 26-year-old.
“It was very tight games but on the tiebreak I think I served well and also played some good points.”
Rybakina and Russia’s Mirra Andreeva were locked in a straight struggle for the final WTA Finals spot.
Rybakina will compete in the season-ending competition from November 1 to 8, alongside Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini.
“I’ll try to do well there at the finals for sure, but I think now I played a lot of matches and I’m a little bit tired,” Rybakina told the press.
“I understand that it’s important to manage your body and finish the season healthy.”
Paolini secured the seventh spot by reaching the semi-finals last week in Ningbo.
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