Rybakina overcomes Shnaider to face Fernandez in Ningbo title match
The world No. 1 won the semifinal in two sets after saving 11 set points and battling through a foot injury that forced her withdrawal from Wuhan.
By Natalia Costa ·
Elena Rybakina secured a spot in the Ningbo Open final on Saturday, defeating sixth seed Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5 at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre. The victory allows the world No. 1 to defend her crown against unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez in Sunday's championship match. Rybakina is aiming for her second consecutive title at the event in the eastern Chinese city.
The path to the final was not clean. Rybakina arrived in Ningbo following a heavy defeat in Beijing and a withdrawal from the Wuhan tournament due to a foot injury. She struggled with consistency against Shnaider, a 13th-ranked player known for her left-handed game. In the opening set, Rybakina needed 11 set points to close the match after an aggressive start gave way to a sudden dip in form.
"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." She noted that Shnaider produced great shots and long rallies, making the point play difficult.
The second set followed a similar trajectory. Rybakina, a 27-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner, continued to miss first serves but held her nerve in key moments. She broke serve to go up 4-3, only to be broken to love in the 10th game. Rybakina reclaimed the advantage with big hitting and served with more assurance in the final game to seal the win. Shnaider's left-handed style presented a specific challenge for the right-hander.
"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." Fernandez, who defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 earlier in the day, also plays left-handed.
Rybakina will use Sunday to sharpen her game before moving to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. Following that event, she will begin the defense of her WTA Finals title at Indian Wells on November 8. When asked about the prospect of winning back-to-back trophies in Ningbo, Rybakina remained grounded. "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."
The final is scheduled for Sunday at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre. Both players have now advanced to their respective finals in the current WTA season, with Rybakina holding the higher ranking and the title advantage.
