Elena Rybakina vs Ajla Tomljanovic Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Rybakina to battle her way into Ningbo semis

Andrew Hendrie

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Last updated: Fri 17 Oct 2025 00:07

Andrew Hendrie 17 Oct 2025

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Elena Rybakina vs Ajla Tomljanovic predictions for Friday's WTA Ningbo quarter-final
Rybakina has failed to cover a -5.5 games line in her last seven matches
Tomljanovic is on a four-match winning run in Ningbo from qualifying & took a set off Rybakina in their last meeting
The match is scheduled to start around 8.00pm AEDT on Friday October 17

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Elena Rybakina (Photo by Getty Images)

Elena Rybakina vs Ajla Tomljanovic Tips, Prediction & Live Stream

Elena Rybakina continues her hunt for a WTA Finals spot and 500-level title at the Ningbo Open when she comes up against Aussie qualifier Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarter-finals on Friday.

Elena Rybakina vs Ajla Tomljanovic Tips, Prediction & Live Stream
Head To Head
Elena Rybakina Form
Ajla Tomljanovic Form
Live Stream

Rybakina can't secure her WTA Finals qualification in Ningbo, but she can go a long way towards breaking into the top eight if she wins the title. Currently in ninth place in the Live WTA Race, Rybakina would likely need to knock out either Jasmine Paolini or Mirra Andreeva as another WTA 500 event in Tokyo looms next week. Meanwhile, Tomljanovic is enjoying one of her best weeks of the year, emerging from qualifying and surging into the quarter-finals. One more win and it will be the Australian's biggest semi-final since 2019.

It's safe to say Rybakina hasn't been at her best for basically the entire season and she hasn't covered a -5.5 games handicap in her last seven matches dating back to the US Open. Tomljanovic has taken a set off Rybakina before and is playing some of her best tennis of the season - I'll back the qualifier to cover here.

Head To Head

Rybakina leads 2-0, but this will be their first meeting since the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals, which Rybakina won 4-6 6-2 6-3.

Elena Rybakina Form

Rybakina enters this matchup with a 47–19 record for the season and remains firmly inside the world’s top 10, currently ranked No. 9.

It’s been a solid yet unspectacular campaign for the former Wimbledon champion. She’s reached the quarter-finals or better in 10 tournaments, with half of those runs coming at prestigious WTA 1000 events, but she’s struggled to hit her peak consistently, claiming just one title (the WTA 250 in Strasbourg) over the past 18 months.

Recent results underline that inconsistency. Rybakina fell to Eva Lys in the third round at Beijing, before being ousted by Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals at Wuhan, leaving her searching for the sharpness that once made her one of the tour’s most dominant forces.

Rybakina was once again under the pump in her Ningbo opener - she trailed Dayana Yastremska 2-4 in the opening set and wasted two set points in the second. Ultimately, Rybakina needed three hours to grind out a 4-6, 6-7 (6), 6-3 win to keep her WTA Finals chances alive.

Ajla Tomljanovic Form

Tomljanovic heads into this contest with a 23-23 overall record this season, but that mark decreases to 15-19 at tour-level.

The Aussie has been unlucky with injuries since reaching a career-high ranking of No. 32 in 2023 and it's been a struggle to get back to her best tennis.

Indeed, this is the first quarter-final of Tomljanovic since Rabat in May, where she ended up reaching the final before falling to countrywoman Maya Joint.

Tomljanovic got revenge on Joint in Ningbo qualifying before serving up some of her best tennis of the season to beat Clara Tauson in three sets in the opening round. The 32-year-old then recovered from a 0-5 first set deficit to topple Zeynep Sonmez 7-6 6-3 to reach the last eight.

Live Stream

Watch and bet on Elena Rybakina vs Ajla Tomljanovic live Ningbo Open tennis from Ningbo.

You can watch and bet on the match live at Unibet > Tennis > WTA Ningbo with the action available to stream on desktop and mobile.

Geo-restrictions apply, you'll need a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to gain access. 18+ terms and conditions apply.

Verdict

Elena Rybakina v Ajla Tomljanovic

Rybakina hasn't covered a -5.5 games handicap in her last seven matches and easily could have lost to Yastremska in her opening Ningbo match.

Tomljanovic is playing some of her best tennis of the season - if she maintains this form, she should be able to keep this relatively close.

Tomljanovic +5.5

Games Line

$1.93 - 2 Units

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