Jasmine Paolini fought back from the brink of defeat against Belinda Bencic to book her place in the Ningbo Open semi-finals and keep her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals alive.

The Italian triumphed in a marathon three-hour-and-22-minute clash with Bencic, coming out on top 5-7 7-5 6-3.

There were seven breaks of serve in the first set, with Paolini initially starting well by getting the first to go 2-0 up.

However, it was Bencic who got the edge in the latter stages, as after five games with neither player able to hold serve, the Swiss served out the set on her second set-point attempt.

And it looked like Bencic would take the match with little fuss after she went a break up at 5-4, but Paolini earned an immediate break, starting a three-game winning streak which saw her save six break points on her way to forcing a decider.

There was little to split the pair in the final set, with Paolini fending off another break point in the opening game.

Bencic continued to fade though, and another three-game winning streak got Paolini over the line.

Back from the brink to make the semifinals @JasminePaolini #NingboOpen pic.twitter.com/ayXIjFY0jr

— wta (@WTA) October 17, 2025

"One of the toughest I ever played, honestly," Paolini said in her on-court interview. "Belinda, she's an amazing player and a very good person.

"She deserved to win as well, so it was really tough. I'm happy I stayed there, because at the beginning I had too many mistakes.

"I couldn't find my best tennis, but then I just tried to stay there every point and turn the match somehow."

Paolini will face Elena Rybakina or Ajla Tomljanovic in the last eight, needing to better the former's result in this tournament to seal her place in the WTA Finals.

Data Debrief: Paolini shows her mettle

This was Paolini's longest match of the year, and it is the first time she has exceeded the three-hour mark in over three years (2022 Palermo quarter-finals).

The 29-year-old saved 70% of the break points she faced in the match (14/20), while converting half of the ones she forced (7/14).

But her strong finish was the most important – she won nine of the last 12 games after going 5-4 down to earn the victory.