Race to the WTA Finals: Down to Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva for last spot in Riyadh

On the weekend, Jasmine Paolini became the seventh player to qualify for this year's WTA Finals, joining Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys in the field.

Only one spot remains at the elite eight-woman event, and it's down to just two players—Elena Rybakina and Mirra Andreeva.

And with Rybakina being the only one of those two players competing this week, which is the last week that counts in this year's Race to the WTA Finals, her qualifying scenario for Riyadh is crystal clear.

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How have the Race to the WTA Finals standings changed after Ningbo?

Rybakina and Andreeva couldn't have had more contrasting weeks in Ningbo last week. Andreeva lost her opening match, while Rybakina went all the way to the title at the WTA 500-level event.

With that, the gap between them went from 406 points a week ago (4,319 to 3,913) to just 14 points today (4,319 to 4,305).

But it'll still take a few wins in Tokyo this week for Rybakina to close that miniscule gap, as she can't actually add points to her total until she reaches the semifinals—once she gets there, though, it's over, as a semifinal showing at the WTA 500 event will push her past Andreeva and secure her qualification at this year's WTA Finals.

If she loses before the semifinals in Tokyo, Andreeva qualifies.

RACE TO THE WTA FINALS (after Ningbo, players qualified in bold):

• No. 1: Aryna Sabalenka—9,990 points
• No. 2: Iga Swiatek—8,303 points
• No. 3: Coco Gauff—6,573 points
• No. 4: Amanda Anisimova—5,897 points
• No. 5: Jessica Pegula—5,183 points
• No. 6: Madison Keys—4,395 points
• No. 7: Jasmine Paolini—4,325 points [+1]
• No. 8: Mirra Andreeva—4,319 points [-1]
• No. 9: Elena Rybakina—4,305 points

Who will be the alternates at the WTA Finals this year?

The first alternate will be whichever one of Rybakina and Andreeva doesn't qualify—the one who finishes at No. 9 on the race standings.

The second alternate is already locked in, and it's Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will finish at No. 10 on the race standings. The big-hitting veteran just made her Top 10 debut on the WTA rankings a week ago, at No. 10, and in her first tournament as a part of the elite she made it to the final in Ningbo last week, falling to Rybakina in three sets.

Stay tuned to TENNIS.com for all the latest race updates this week, and stream WTA Tokyo on the Tennis Channel App!