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Magdalena Rybarikova upsets top-seeded Kristina Mladenovic at WTA Elite Trophy

In this Oct. 17, 2017 file photo, Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova plays a return during the first round match against Russia’s Maria Sharapova at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated Press)
Associated Press

ZHUHAI, China – Magdalena Rybarikova overcame seven service breaks to beat top-seeded Kristina Mladenovic 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (5) Wednesday at the WTA Elite Trophy.

The 10th-seeded Rybarikova had lost her opening match to Julia Goerges in the Azalea group.

“I had a tough match yesterday and I had to play against someone who was resting so it was not easy for me,” Rybarikova said. “I was saying to myself that I had to win this match because I had so many match points and it would be really cruel to end the season like this.”

Also, ninth-seeded Ashleigh Barty defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 6-1 in the Rose group, while Anastasija Sevastova beat U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens 7-5, 6-3 in the Camillea group.

The tournament in Zhuhai features the leading players on the women’s tour who didn’t qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore last week. The 12-player tournament is divided into four groups of three, with the winner of each group advancing to the semifinals.