Elena Rybakina moved a step closer to securing a place at the WTA Finals with a dominant performance in Ningbo, sweeping past Italy’s Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-3 to reach the final on Saturday.

The world No. 5 produced a clinical display of power and precision, firing nine aces and 27 winners to overwhelm Paolini, who struggled to handle Rybakina’s relentless baseline aggression. The victory marked Rybakina’s third straight-sets win of the week as she looks to capture her third title of the season.

“I’m really happy with the way I played today,” Rybakina said after the match. “It was tough conditions, but I stayed focused and served well when I needed to.”

The Kazakh star is chasing valuable ranking points in her bid to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh, with her latest run tightening the race for the final few spots. She will face either Zheng Qinwen or Maria Sakkari in Sunday’s championship match.

A win in Ningbo would further solidify Rybakina’s position among the top eight players set to compete at the prestigious year-end event.