Elena Rybakina kept her WTA Final qualification alive by defeating Jasmine Paolini at the Ningbo Open.
The World No. 9 produced one of her best performances of the year to dispatch the World No. 8 in straight sets to make the final at the Ningbo Open.
Rybakina says she’s not focused on WTA Final qualification, but there’s still an outside chance she can oust either Mirra Andreeva or Paolini in the final spot.
During her match with Paolini, Barry Cowan and Melanie South were stunned by one particular attribute from Rybakina.
Elena Rybakina’s serving was incredibly impressive against Jasmine Paolini
Rybakina was supreme with her serve against Paolini and it helped her sweep the Italian aside, and it blew away Sky Sports commentators Barry Cowan and Melanie South.
“That first serve has been at a devastating best. 25 of 29 points she’s won on first serve,” said Cowan after the match. That’s the big difference between the two.”
Cowan then asked South about where she ranks in the best serves in the game, and South put her in elite company.
After Cowan said he “Always gave that to Serena Williams,” South responded: “I’d go with two, I’m thinking of Sabalenka as well.
“It’s moments in the season, the consistency with it,” she added. “There are definitely developments with Rybakina.”
Rybakina’s serve has always been one of her biggest attributes and she stands head and shoulders above the rest of the tour in terms of aces.
“Rybakina won 88% of points behind that first serve. It was incredible. That, alongside the 10 aces, is what stopped Paolini being able to get any of those seven break point chances.
Elena Rybakina’s incredible serving statistics in 2025
Rybakina leads the way for aces on the WTA Tour in 2025 and there’s no star even close to the amount that the Kazakhstani player has hit.
The World No. 9 has hit 419 aces across the season, which is 67 more than the Clara Tauson on the WTA Tour in second place.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has hit 267 aces, while World No. 2 Iga Swiatek has managed 235 perfect serves in 2025.
Tauson in second place saw has seen her hit 347 aces, but Rybakina has completely dominated the field for aces this term.
