Elena Rybakina advanced to the final of the Stuttgart Open on Saturday after defeating Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-1. The Australian Open champion overcame the challenge posed by the 18-year-old Russian to secure her spot in the title match, where she will face Karolina Muchova.

Rybakina’s victory came just one day after a grueling three-hour quarterfinal against Leylah Fernandez, which she won in a late finish on Friday. Despite potential fatigue, the top seed demonstrated resilience and consistency on the clay courts in Stuttgart. The opening set proved tightly contested, with Rybakina breaking Andreeva’s serve late to claim the set 7-5. Andreeva came into the match with strong recent form on clay, boasting a 7-0 record for the season and having won last week’s tournament in Linz.

With the momentum from the first set, Rybakina dominated the second, racing to a 5-0 lead before closing out the match in 77 minutes. She credited her aggressive serving and ability to capitalize on key opportunities as factors in maintaining control. “In the first set, it was pretty even. I had some chances to take the lead earlier but didn’t convert them,” Rybakina said after the match. “I’m happy that in the crucial moments, my serve worked well and I stayed aggressive. Being ahead in the second set allowed me to hit more freely and play more aggressively.”

This marks Rybakina’s third final appearance of the year and gives her a chance to reclaim the Stuttgart title she won two years ago. The 24-year-old also finished as runner-up at Indian Wells last month, reflecting a strong string of performances this season.

In the other semifinal, seventh-seeded Muchova overcame Elina Svitolina in three sets. Svitolina rebounded in the second set by breaking Muchova’s serve three times to force a decider. However, Muchova earned a critical break in the ninth game of the final set, gaining a 5-4 advantage. She then served out the match at love, sealing her win with an ace wide to secure the place in the final against Rybakina.

The championship match in Stuttgart will feature two determined competitors aiming to capture a prestigious clay court title ahead of the European clay season’s key events.