Rybakina advances to Ningbo final after beating Shnaider

Elena Rybakina converted her 11th set point in the first set to secure a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Diana Shnaider in the Ningbo Open semifinal. The result places the defending champion in Sunday's final, where she will attempt to claim a second consecutive title at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre.

Rybakina, the world number one, faced resistance from the 13th-ranked Shnaider, who is a left-hander. Rybakina noted that the opponent's game style created difficulties during rallies, requiring her to adjust her pattern. "She played really well, and it's always difficult to play against left-handers," Rybakina said. "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."

The match featured a similar rhythm in both sets. Rybakina took an early lead in the second set with a break of serve at 4-3. She then faced a break at love in the 10th game but responded with powerful hitting to regain the advantage. She served with greater confidence in the final game to close out the match. Rybakina described the first set as a struggle, admitting she could not close the game despite hitting well. "It was an important game, and it was a long one," she said. "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."

Rybakina arrives in Ningbo following a challenging period. She suffered a heavy defeat in Beijing and withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury. Her performance against Shnaider included flashes of high-level tennis, though she continued to struggle with first-serve accuracy throughout the contest.

Her opponent in Sunday's final is unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez. Fernandez also defeated a 6-3, 7-5 in the first semifinal, beating Czech player Marie Bouzkova. Fernandez is also left-handed, meaning Rybakina will face a similar tactical challenge in the championship match.

After the Ningbo Open, Rybakina plans to play at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. She will then begin defending her WTA Finals title at the Indian Wells tournament on November 8. Regarding the prospect of winning back-to-back titles in Ningbo, Rybakina remained focused on the immediate task. "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."