11 set points: Rybakina survives Shnaider to defend Ningbo title
World number one converts on her final set point to defeat the sixth seed and set up a rematch with left-handed Leylah Fernandez in Sunday's final.
By Christopher Singh ·
Elena Rybakina required 11 set points to defeat Diana Shnaider in the second set, securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the Ningbo Open semifinal. The result allows the world number one to attempt to defend her title and win back-to-back trophies at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre. It also serves as a performance check for the Australian Open and US Open champion ahead of the WTA Finals next month.
Rybakina arrives in the final after a recent slump. She suffered a heavy loss in Beijing and subsequently withdrew from the Wuhan tournament due to a foot injury. Despite this context, she managed to control the opening set against the 13th-ranked Shnaider. Her aggressive play from deep in the court gave her an early lead, although a dip in form forced her to work for the set win.
The second set mirrored the first, with Rybakina struggling with first-serve accuracy. She broke serve to move ahead 4-3 but was broken to love in the 10th game. The 27-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner responded with big hitting to retake the lead in the 11th game. She then served with greater assurance to close out the match.
Shnaider’s left-handed style presented specific tactical challenges for Rybakina. The Russian sixth seed forced the favorite to switch patterns during rallies, a dynamic Rybakina acknowledged was difficult to manage. She noted that left-handers are not common on the tour and that she needed time to adjust to their returns.
Rybakina will face a similar stylistic test in Sunday’s final. Her opponent, unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez, is also left-handed. Fernandez earned her place in the championship match by defeating Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic by the identical 6-3, 7-5 scoreline in the first semifinal.
Following the Ningbo Open, Rybakina is scheduled to compete in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. She will then begin the defense of her WTA Finals title at Indian Wells starting November 8. Rybakina described the upcoming final as a struggle she is glad to have won, noting that she played well on the first balls but could not close games earlier in the match.
