Rybakina and Samsonova Set for Strasbourg Final Clash
Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and eighth-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova are set to meet in the highly anticipated final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in France. Rybakina earned her spot by outlasting No. 9 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil in a grueling 7-6 (7), 1-6, 6-2 semifinal battle that lasted two hours and 46 minutes on Friday. Rybakina showcased her resilience, striking eight aces, saving eight of 11 break points, and fighting off a set point in the intense opening-set tiebreak.
Samsonova had a more straightforward path to the final, completing her 6-4, 6-2 victory over unseeded Danielle Collins in just 87 minutes. She tallied four aces and saved five of seven break points. The upcoming final promises to be a compelling match, as Samsonova holds a 4-1 head-to-head record against Rybakina, though Rybakina won their most recent clash in three sets during the Abu Dhabi semifinals in 2024. For some important tips on betting on tennis, you can find more information here.
Both are looking to add the Strasbourg title to their resume for the first time 🏆
— wta (@WTA) May 23, 2025
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Joint and Cristian Vie for Maiden WTA Title in Rabat Final
Australian teenager Maya Joint and Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian will battle for their maiden WTA Tour title in the final of the Grand Prix Sar La Princesse Lalla Meryem in Rabat, Morocco. Joint, 19, advanced to the final after her countrywoman Ajla Tomljanovic was forced to retire from their semifinal match on Friday, with Joint leading 6-4. Interestingly, they are scheduled to meet again in the opening round of the upcoming French Open.
Cristian took a longer, more challenging route to the final, knocking out No. 2 seed Camila Osorio of Colombia in a hard-fought 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-4 contest that spanned just over three hours. Cristian capitalized on 13 double faults by Osorio, breaking her serve an impressive nine times throughout the match. For tips on betting strategies for specific tournaments like the US Open or the Australian Open, visit our guides.
