Elena Rybakina has become the first player to win a quartet of titles on the WTA Tour this year after downing Leylah Fernandez in the final of the Ningbo Open.
The world No.1 dropped only four games and was unbroken throughout her 6-2, 6-2 win over former US Open runner-up Fernandez. Rybakina converted four out of five break point opportunities and hit 25 winners during the clash, which lasted just shy of 80 minutes. It is the first time the Kazakh has successfully defended a Tour-level title and is on an eight-match winning streak at the event.
“I want to congratulate Leylah with a great week. A lot of tough matches and tough wins. Congrats to you and your team. Good luck for the rest of the year,” Rybakina said during the trophy ceremony.
“I’d like to say thank you to my team. Most of them are back home supporting and watching. Thank you so much guys. And thank you to Stas for staying with me this week and supporting each match.”
Rybakina is now 7-2 in Tour finals played since the start of 2025. En route to the Ninbo title, she dropped only one set, which was in the quarter-finals against Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa. She also defeated Polina Kudmertova in her opening match (via retirement) and Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals.
“Thank you to my family, friends, and sponsors. And all of you guys (the Ningbo crowd), thank you so much for an amazing atmosphere every day, it’s amazing to play in front of you,” she continued.
“It always gives a lot of motivation, a lot of energy to keep on playing. It’s my second year here and my second win. It’s such a special place for me.”
As for runner-up Fernandez, she missed out on claiming a second title during this year’s Asian swing after winning the Singapore Open last month. She has won 13 of her last 17 matches played.
“We’re having a good end of year. We just gotta keep going, keep working hard,” said Fernandez.
Besides Ningbo, Rybakina has also won the Australian Open, US Open and Stuttgart Open this season.
Both Rybakina and Fernandez are scheduled to return to action next week at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, which is the last WTA 500 event of the season.
