Elena Rybakina continued her title defence at the Ningbo Open with a tricky win over Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals on Saturday.
The world No.1 had to overcome blips in both sets during her 6-3, 7-5 win over the Russian sixth seed. Rybakina now leads Shnaider 3-0 in their head-to-head and has recorded 52 Tour-level wins this season, which is more than any other player. She is through to her sixth final of the season.
“She played really well and it’s always difficult to play against lefties, we don’t have so many on the Tour,” Rybakina said afterwards.
“I needed some time, and I feel like the return was not as bad, but then during the rallies, to switch the pattern a little bit was a bit of an issue for me, but she played really well, and I’m happy that I managed to win in the end.”
Rybakina’s biggest challenge in her latest match was closing the sets out. In the opener, she stormed to a 5-3 lead, dropping just three points behind her serve. However, serving for the set, Rybakina failed to convert 10 set points during a marathon game before prevailing.
“It was an important game and a very long one,” she said.
“It was a struggle on my serve. I was playing first (serves) really well, but then at advantage, I couldn’t close the game, and there were so many opportunities.”
“She played some really great shots, great rallies, but I’m happy that I won that game.”
The second frame repeated a similar pattern, with the Kazakh broken to love at 5-4 while serving. She overcame the setback by winning nine of the next 12 points played to seal victory.
Rybkina is bidding to defend a title at a WTA event for the first time in Ningbo. She has won the same event once in her career on the WTA Tour. She won the Stuttgart Open in 2024 and 2026.
“I will try to do my best. I will give it my all tomorrow (in the final),” she said.
Awaiting the top seed in Sunday’s final will be Leylah Fernandez, who defeated Marie Bouzková 6-3, 7-5. She currently leads their head-to-head 3-2.
