Ningbo’s Precision Advantage: Paolini Tops Kudermetova as Medvedev Seeks Almaty Revenge

Paolini presses on in Ningbo, eyeing a Riyadh finish

Jasmine Paolini, the No. 2 seed at the Ningbo WTA 500 event, defeated Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, advancing to the second round and inching closer to a direct berth in the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh at the start of November.

Paolini still needs to reach the final in Ningbo this week to secure direct qualification to Riyadh; she could qualify even sooner if she makes the semifinals, provided Elina Rybakina loses before the semis. The math is delicate, but the Italian is playing with clear intent to control her own destiny.

Her next test comes in the quarterfinals on Friday against Belinda Bencic, a Swiss rival with a 2-1 head-to-head edge in their favor. It’s a high-stakes clash that could shape Paolini’s chances at Riyadh and the rest of her season.

In a post-match calm, Paolini gave a candid on-court interview reported by the WTA: “I’m trying to stay focused on the court and the next match; it’s in my mind, of course, but I’m keeping my attention on tennis and what I must do.”

Stat attack and steadfast focus

Against Kudermetova, Paolini leaned on an aggressive yet controlled style, boasting a first-serve percentage near 75% and tallying 14 winners to 17 errors. Kudermetova’s first serve dipped to about 55%, with 38 errors to 22 winners, illustrating Paolini’s edge in clean baseline play and consistent pressure.

Kudermetova broke Paolini’s serve at the start of each set, yet momentum swung back as errors mounted for the Russian. Near the end of the second set, Kudermetova offered brief resistance but netted a third double fault on the decisive point, sealing Paolini’s win.

Paolini reflected on her performance: “I stayed present at every rally, kept focus, and searched for solutions,” she said, claiming her fourth win against Kudermetova in 2025 as she inches toward a potential Riyadh appearance.

Other Ningbo match notes

Also in Ningbo, American Mackenzie Kisler defeated Liudmila Samsonova in a tight two-setter, 7-6, 6-1, advancing to a quarterfinal meeting with Ekaterina Alexandrova, who had earlier taken down Chinese foe Yuan Yuwan 6-3, 6-3.

Meanwhile, Elina Rybakina, the third seed, outlasted Diana Yastremska 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 to set up a clash with Ajla Tomljanovic in the next round.

Medvedev’s Almaty rebound and the Turin race

In Almaty, Daniil Medvedev avenged his Cincinnati setback by edging Australian Adam Walton 7-5, 7-6 in a tight battle to reach the quarterfinals of the 250-point event.

Medvedev faced a daunting second set deficit at 1-4 but saved four break points in the sixth game, wrestled back control, and delivered 12 second-set winners to seal the win in 1 hour and 45 minutes. He will meet Fabian Marozsan in the next round.

Post-match, the 29-year-old Russian outlined the challenge: “It was an extremely tough match. I saved break points and found my rhythm later, which was crucial.”

Turin race snapshots

Medvedev has reached the semis in Shanghai and Beijing recently and has won eight of his last ten matches. The 29-year-old sits 14th in the direct race to Turin and remains in contention for a seventh straight Finals appearance, though he trails Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti by 1025 points for the last qualifying spot.

Young stars rising

Shintaro Mochizuki also advanced to a quarterfinal showdown with American Alex Michelsen after defeating Luciano Darderi 6-3, 6-3, marking his first appearance inside the ATP top 100 this season as he rose to No. 92. Michelsen, arriving in Almaty following a five-match slide, beat Australian Alexander Vukic 6-3, 6-2 to keep his own momentum going.

Two sharp notes from a memorable week of tennis, where everything from forehands to futures hangs in the balance.

And now for the jokes you didn’t know you needed: 1) My serve is so precise, even the ball files a travel permit just to get out of the court. 2) If I’m ever in a tiebreak, I hope the scoreboard learns to duck—because I’m about to fire two shots that will knock the crowd out of breath.