NINGBO: Elena Rybakina moved closer to another tournament title on Saturday after overcoming Russia’s Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5 in the semifinals of the Ningbo Open.
The top seed and defending champion will now face Leylah Fernandez in the final after the Canadian defeated Czech player Marie Bouzkova in straight sets.
Rybakina, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is aiming to secure her fourth WTA title of the year after a strong season that included her reported rise to the world number one ranking following her US Open triumph in September.
The Kazakh player, who missed last week’s Wuhan Open because of a foot injury, showed her power and resilience against Shnaider but had to work harder than expected to close out the match.
Rybakina Survives Tense First Set
Rybakina appeared poised to take control of the opening set but struggled to finish it off while serving at 5-3.
The 27-year-old squandered 10 set points, twice double-faulting as Shnaider fought to remain in contention. Rybakina eventually secured the set on her 11th opportunity.
Shnaider, the 13th-ranked Russian, continued to challenge her opponent in the second set, holding serve after recovering from an early difficult position.
However, Rybakina increased the pressure and broke Shnaider in the seventh game before holding serve to move ahead 5-3.
Kazakh Star Recovers to Seal Victory
Rybakina had an opportunity to finish the match while serving at 5-4, but she unexpectedly lost her serve without winning a point, allowing Shnaider to level the contest.
The defending champion responded immediately, breaking back to regain the advantage.
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Serving for the match again at 6-5, Rybakina made no mistake. She converted her second match point with a two-handed backhand down the line to complete the 6-3, 7-5 victory.
The win put her one step away from defending her Ningbo Open title and adding another trophy to her season’s achievements.
Fernandez Reaches Final After Beating Bouzkova
In the other semifinal, Leylah Fernandez defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 to secure her place in the final.
The Canadian, ranked 30th in the world, is seeking her second title in as many months after winning the Singapore tournament last month.
Fernandez controlled much of the opening set and broke early in the second to establish a 2-0 lead. Bouzkova responded, however, as both players struggled to hold their serves consistently.
The second set developed into a closely contested battle before Fernandez secured victory in just under two hours when Bouzkova sent a return long.
The final will give Rybakina an opportunity to defend her title, while Fernandez will aim to continue her recent run of success and claim another trophy.
