WTA Finals: Rybakina On Track For Qualification With Win Over Pliskova

Elena Rybakina remains in contention for a WTA Finals spot with a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Karolina Pliskova in the first round of the Guadalajara Open on Tuesday.

Pliskova served for the opening set at 5-3 but the Czech was unable to finish the job as Rybakina battled back to force a tiebreak.

Pliskova issued one of her six double faults in the match on set point in the tiebreaker and Rybakina cruised from there, taking the second set behind her powerful groundstrokes and booming serve.

Rybakina will face Jessica Pegula, who won their only previous meeting at the Miami Open this year.

The WTA Finals will be contested by the game’s top eight players, with Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur and Pegula having locked up the first three spots.