Rybakina, Fernandez Set for Ningbo Final
The defending champion and an unseeded Canadian have advanced to the title match at the Ningbo Open.
By Ama Boateng ·
If you are following tennis, the Ningbo Open final is set. Elena Rybakina, the defending champion, will play for another title against Leylah Fernandez. For Rybakina, a win would mean holding the trophy two years in a row.
Rybakina, the world number one, reached the final by defeating Russia's Diana Shnaider with a score of 6-3, 7-5. Fernandez, a Canadian player who is not seeded in the tournament, advanced by beating Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic. That semifinal also ended 6-3, 7-5. Both matches were played at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre in the eastern Chinese city.
For Rybakina, this is a step back toward her best form. The Australian Open and US Open champion arrived in Ningbo after a heavy loss in Beijing and then had to withdraw from a tournament in Wuhan because of a foot injury. She showed flashes of her powerful tennis against Shnaider, though she had some wobbles along the way.
She took control of the first set with an aggressive start, hitting winners from the back of the court. But her form dipped, and she needed many chances to finish the set, finally securing it on her 11th set point. "It was an important game, and it was a long one," Rybakina said. "It was on my serve, and it was a struggle… I'm glad it went my way." The second set followed a similar pattern, with Rybakina winning the key points despite some trouble with her first-serve accuracy.
A challenge for Rybakina is facing left-handed players, which she noted can be difficult. "She played really well, and it's always difficult to play against left-handers," Rybakina said of Shnaider. "I needed some time." Fernandez is also left-handed, so Rybakina faces a similar test in the final.
Looking ahead, Rybakina plans to sharpen her game for the final on Sunday, October 25. After that, she will head to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. Her schedule then takes her to Indian Wells to defend her WTA Finals title starting November 8.
Asked about the prospect of winning the Ningbo Open again, she was measured. "It's never easy," Rybakina said. "Of course I'll try to do my best. I'm going to fight and give my all tomorrow."
Source: Al Jazeera
