Rybakina Beats Shnaider to Set Ningbo Final vs. Fernandez
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina overcame a 13th-seeded opponent in straight sets to secure a back-to-back title bid.
By Maya Sokolov ·
Elena Rybakina will face Leylah Fernandez in the Ningbo Open final on Sunday after defeating Diana Shnaider in the semifinal. The world No. 1 won the match 6-3, 7-5 at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre in eastern China. This result keeps her alive for a second consecutive title at this event.
Fernandez, an unseeded Canadian, earned her place in the final earlier in the day. She defeated Czech player Marie Bouzkova by the identical 6-3, 7-5 scoreline. The Canadian left-hander now awaits her opponent for the championship match.
Rybakina arrived in Ningbo following a rough stretch of tournament play. She lost heavily in Beijing and had to withdraw from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury. In the semifinal against the 13th-ranked Shnaider, the Australian and US Open champion showed flashes of top-level tennis despite some inconsistencies.
The first set saw Rybakina start with aggressive play from the back of the court. She controlled the early exchange but required eleven set points to secure the 6-3 lead. The second set followed a similar trajectory. Rybakina struggled with first-serve accuracy but held serve on key points to break Shnaider at 4-3.
Shnaider responded by breaking Rybakina for love in the 10th game. The defending champion countered with powerful shots to retake the lead in the 11th game. She then served with greater confidence to close the match. Rybakina noted that Shnaider’s left-handed style created challenges during rallies, a factor she will likely face again against Fernandez.
Following the Ningbo Open, Rybakina is scheduled to compete in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. She will then begin her defense of the WTA Finals title at Indian Wells starting November 8. The top seed acknowledged the difficulty of winning two years in a row, stating she intends to give her all in the final.
"It was an important game, and it was a long one," Rybakina said after the match. "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."
Source: Al Jazeera
