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WTA roundup: Elena Rybakina continues sizzling start to 2026

By Thomson Reuters Apr 18, 2026 | 5:07 PM

Top-seeded Elena Rybakina continued her outstanding 2026 campaign by overwhelming sixth-seeded Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the finals of the Porsche Tennis Grand ​Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.

Rybakina, who represents Kazakhstan, will face ‌No. 7 seed Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic in Sunday’s final. Muchova pulled off a mild upset with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over No. 4 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

Rybakina, who won the 2026 Australian ‌Open ​and reached the finals at Indian Wells, ⁠exchanged breaks with Andreeva ⁠before winning four of five points on the Russian’s serve to capture the first set. She cruised in the second set, winning a combined 21 of 25 points on her ​first serves and Andreeva’s second service offerings.

The deciding set between Muchova and Svitolina looked to be going the distance, but ⁠the Czech won the final eight ⁠points of the match — four on her opponent’s ​serve in the ninth game — to set up the fourth all-time ​meeting with Rybakina. Muchova has won two of three ‌prior matches, including a quarterfinal victory in January at Brisbane.

Rouen Metropolitan Open

Top-seeded Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine cruised past Germany’s Tatjana Maria 6-3, 6-0 to reach the finals in Rouen, France.

Kostyuk will ⁠take on teenage qualifier and countrywoman Veronika Podrez. She advanced in a walkover prior to her scheduled match against Romania’s Sonia Cirstea, who ⁠withdrew due to ‌a leg injury.

Kostyuk, who will be trying ⁠to win her second WTA title and first ​since ‌a 2023 championship in Austin, Texas, fended off ​all four ⁠break points in the match against the 38-year old German. Maria could not contain Kostyuk’s power, dropping 32 of 43 (74.4%) service points.

Podrez, 19, advanced to the semifinals with wins over Sloane Stephens, No. 7 seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy and Great Britain’s Katie ​Boulter.

–Field Level Media