The WTA Ningbo final is here. It’s Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Elena Rybakina. Last Word on Tennis is back with more best bets for this final. Both women are vying for their second title of the year, and they’re both Top 10 in the World.  I provided a few different bets, so let me know in the comments if you agree with my picks. As always, thank you for reading.

WTA Ningbo final

Alexandrova – Rybakina: October 18th, 2025 11:00 
H2H: 4-1

Ekaterina Alexandrova will take on Elena Rybakina in the final at WTA Ningbo. This will mark the sixth overall meeting between the Russian-born Rybakina and the Russian-born Kazakh Alexandrova. Their last meeting was at WTA Adelaide in 2024. Alexandrova won the match, beating Rybakina for the fourth time in five attempts. Rybakina’s only victory came at WTA Rome in 2020. They also met in one other final right here in China. That was WTA Shenzhen back in 2020, which Alexandrova took in straight sets.

Alexandrova enters this match having gone 7-3 in her last ten matches. Rybakina is also 7-3 in her last ten. Both women also have quality losses. Names like Pegula, Swiatek, Krejcikova, Vondrousova, and Sabalenka are responsible for ending their tournament runs. Both women also managed to push two of their three losses into a third set, so they’re not going down quietly.

Rybakina is 34-13 on a hardcourt this year, and Alexandrova is 21-14. Both have had outstanding years overall, as well. Alexandrova is 46-22 and Rybakina is 51-19 in 2025. Rybakina has only played in five tournaments this year, where she’s failed to win more than two matches. Alexandrova’s total is eight tournaments, so Rybakina is going deep into tournaments and she’s doing it consistently.

I do think there’s tremendous value in looking at Alexandrova’s efforts against Diana Shnaider and McCartney Kessler. While Shnaider and Kessler share some similarities in their approach. They both rely on a powerful forehand and aggressive play, but it’s their secondary attributes that make them differ. Alexandrova shut them both down. She’s played with remarkable consistency in Ningbo.

One advantage Alexandrova might have is that she’s been deep in this very tournament once before. She made the quarterfinal here in Ningbo back in ’23, and Rybakina’s only other appearance saw her lose in the first round to Liudmila Samsonova in straight sets. The question comes down to who you should take in this match?

Best Bets to Make
Main Bet

The books have Elena Rybakina as a pretty good favorite. Despite being 1-4 lifetime against Alexandrova, the books have her at about a 1.75-1 favorite. The average sits at 2.68 to 1.46 in favor of Rybakina. I’m going to assume they’re basing their decisions on how Rybakina has been playing in ’25 more than anything that may have happened in the past. They clearly think Rybakina is the better player now.

If you’re betting on Rybakina, you should look at correct score bets or a total games bet. There really isn’t a lot of value to be had in taking Rybakina straight. She’s barely at the 1.5 minimum. At 1.78 on bwin for over 12.5 games, I think I would take that and call it a day. Correct score is going for 2.1 on 2:0 for Rybakina, but I think that’s tempting fate a bit too much. Play this one smart and lay enough money to make the payout worth it.

That being said, Over 12.5 games is a value bet.

Value bet/ the best odds: Over 12.5 games @1.78 @bwin

Second Bet

If you’re set on taking Alexandrova, then take her straight up at 2.81 at Betfair and live well. As I stated with tempting fate on a correct score, I think taking one or the other straight up is the smarter financial decision. In this case, you’re cashing out at nearly 3-1 odds simply by picking the individual who leads this personal rivalry 4-1 all-time. Easy money is good money.

That being said, Alexandrova winning is a value bet.

Value bet/the best odds: Alexandrova winning @2.81 @Betfair

Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images