Rybakina to Face Fernandez in Ningbo Title Decider

Elena Rybakina will compete for a second consecutive Ningbo Open title on Sunday. The world number one defeated sixth seed Diana Shnaider, 6-3, 7-5, to secure her spot in the final at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre.

The victory allows Rybakina to extend her winning streak at this tournament. It also serves as a final tune-up before she begins her defense of the WTA Finals title in late November.

Rybakina entered the match following a rough stretch of the season. She suffered a heavy loss in Beijing and subsequently withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury. In Ningbo, she faced a stiff test from Shnaider, who is ranked 13th in the world.

The 27-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner took control of the first set with aggressive baseline play. However, she required 11 set points to close the set after a dip in form. Rybakina admitted the challenge in her post-match comments. "It was an important game, and it was a long one," she said. "It was on my serve, and it was a struggle."

The second set mirrored the first, with Rybakina struggling with first-serve accuracy. She broke Shnaider to take a 4-3 lead but was broken to love in the 10th game. Rybakina responded with powerful shots to regain the advantage and serve out the match. She noted that Shnaider's left-handed style created specific tactical difficulties during rallies.

Rybakina will face a similar challenge in the final. Her opponent, Leylah Fernandez, is also left-handed. The unseeded Canadian earned her place by defeating Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic by the same 6-3, 7-5 scoreline in the earlier semifinal.

After the Ningbo final, Rybakina is scheduled to play in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. She will then head to Indian Wells to begin the defense of her WTA Finals title starting November 8. Regarding the upcoming match, Rybakina stated, "It's never easy. Of course I'll try to do my best. I'm going to fight and give my all tomorrow."