Is Borrani's comeback securing her spot over Bencic in the Finals? Netizens say: It depends on whether Rybakina agrees.

As Borrani and Rybakina both advanced to the semifinals in the Ningbo 500, their battle for a place in the WTA Finals became extremely heated!

The match between the Italian and Swiss ace Bencic felt like an emotional rollercoaster for her fans!

After Borrani started the first set with a perfect 2-0 lead, many watching the live stream believed that at this crucial moment in her bid for the Finals, the Italian was giving it her all, determined to crush Bencic and move closer to the year-end championship spot—truly admirable spirit.

Unexpectedly, just after fans praised Borrani, Bencic launched a comeback that not only erased the Italian’s advantage but also clinched the set 7-5, winning the first set.

Some anxiously commented that if Borrani were to be defeated by Bencic in straight sets and miss the semifinals, Rybakina’s chances of securing a Finals spot after the China season would become uncertain if she continued to advance in Ningbo.

Pushed to the edge, Borrani chose to fight with no retreat under immense pressure. After being broken first in the third game of the second set, her fighting spirit was fully ignited. She survived several critical moments and ultimately returned the favor to Bencic with a 7-5 win in the second set, narrowly taking it.

How important was winning this set for Borrani? It was a huge boost to her morale.

Especially when Bencic reached 5-4 in the second set, serving for the match, Borrani held strong under tremendous pressure to turn things around. This was a major blow to the Swiss star. In the final set, Bencic’s performance dropped sharply, and Borrani sealed the victory 6-2, completing the stunning comeback against the Swiss player.

After the match, many discussed Borrani’s narrow escape, openly saying she was very lucky to win. The reason being that if Bencic hadn’t played two consecutive matches lasting about three hours each, resulting in physical fatigue, Borrani’s comeback might have been highly questionable.

Battling for over three hours to overturn Bencic also allowed Borrani to surpass Andrejeva, previously ranked seventh on the champion points list, greatly increasing her chances of securing a WTA Finals ticket.

Some netizens bluntly stated that if Rybakina were to stop at the quarterfinals, “Borrani’s spot in the year-end Finals is guaranteed.”

Since Rybakina’s match against Tomljanovic had not yet started, whether the Kazakh beauty would advance or be eliminated was uncertain. Fans humorously said, “It depends if Nana agrees,” while strongly supporting Rybakina’s victory, hoping the battle for the Finals spot between her and Borrani would reach a thrilling climax instead of ending too soon.

Rybakina clearly understood the significance of her match against Tomljanovic and came out firing from the first set, taking control of the game early on.

Although Tomljanovic managed to break back after being broken, her resilience was not enough to withstand Rybakina’s overwhelming power, and she lost the first set 2-6.

In the second set, Tomljanovic was completely outplayed. Rybakina intensified her attack, turning the set into a one-woman show. She dominated with a 6-0 "bagel," sealing the match in just 57 minutes, keeping the Finals race between her and Borrani wide open.

In the semifinals, Rybakina will face Borrani directly, a match crucial for both players.

If Borrani defeats Rybakina to reach the final, the Italian will confirm her qualification for the year-end Finals this week, turning Andrejeva into Rybakina’s main rival.

If Rybakina wins the semifinal and eventually claims the title, the battle for the Finals spot between the two will have to continue into the Tokyo 500 tournament.

Because of the suspense and excitement, the upcoming high-stakes clash between Rybakina and Borrani has generated huge anticipation. Everyone is eager to see if Borrani will achieve her wish or if the Finals qualification fight with Rybakina will keep going!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit River Sky)