Rybakina Clinches Back-to-Back Ningbo Final Spot

Elena Rybakina will compete in her second consecutive Ningbo Open final after defeating Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5 on Friday. The victory secures a spot for the world number one in Sunday's championship match at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre.

The defending champion faced a gritty opponent in the 13th-ranked Russian. Shnaider saved 11 set points in the first set before Rybakina closed out the frame. The winner advanced to face unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who earned her place by beating Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 in the earlier semifinal.

Rybakina arrived in China after a rough stretch of tournaments. She suffered a heavy loss in Beijing and withdrew from Wuhan due to a foot injury. Despite these setbacks, she produced powerful shots from deep in the court during the first set. Her form wavered late in the frame, requiring multiple attempts to secure the break.

"It was an important game, and it was a long one," Rybakina said after the match. "It was on my serve, and it was a struggle .. I was playing the first balls really well, but I couldn't close the game .. so many opportunities, but I'm glad it went my way."

The second set mirrored the first. Rybakina struggled with first-serve accuracy but broke serve to lead 4-3. Shnaider responded by breaking to love in the 10th game. Rybakina hit big winners to retake the lead in the next game and served confidently to finish the match. The 27-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner noted that Shnaider's left-handed style created challenges in pattern switching.

"She played really well, and it's always difficult to play against left-handers," Rybakina said. "We don't have so many on the tour. I needed some time. The returns were not as bad, but during the rallies, to switch the pattern was a little bit of an issue for me, but I'm happy I managed to win in two sets."

Rybakina plans to use Sunday's final to sharpen her game before traveling to Tokyo for the Pan Pacific Open next week. She will then begin defending her WTA Finals title at Indian Wells on November 8. Regarding the chance to win the Ningbo title again, Rybakina remained focused on the task at hand. "It's never easy," she said. "Of course I'll try to do my best. I'm going to fight and give my all tomorrow."