Eighth Seed Rybakina Aims to Bounce Back in Beijing Clash

On Friday, September 26, 2025, eighth seed Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan will face off against unseeded American Caty McNally in the second round of the China Open in Beijing. Rybakina has enjoyed a strong season overall, highlighted by her title triumph in Strasbourg, but she is aiming to rebound from a disappointing fourth-round exit at the US Open last month.

The Kazakh player arrives in Beijing confident after a solid summer that saw her reach the semifinals at the Citi Open, Canadian Open, and Cincinnati Open. Meanwhile, McNally is still searching for her big breakthrough on the main tour, with her 2025 campaign featuring an up-and-down performance. The American's highlight was a title run at the WTA 125K event in Newport, though that did not count towards her main tour record.

This will be the second career meeting between Rybakina and McNally, with the former holding a 1-0 head-to-head advantage. Rybakina is the clear favorite on paper, with her powerful serve, flat groundstrokes, and effortless power making her a formidable opponent on hard courts. However, McNally's variety and net skills could pose a challenge if she can keep the Kazakh out of her comfort zone. Unless Rybakina struggles with her accuracy or intensity, she is expected to secure a relatively straightforward victory and book her spot in the third round.