Elena Rybakina Defends Ningbo Open Title Ahead of WTA Finals
Elena Rybakina, the world number one, retained her title at the Ningbo Open, defeating Leylah Fernandez with a score of 6-2, 6-2. This victory on Sunday marks Rybakina's first successful title defense, which she described as a great achievement.
The 27-year-old Kazakh's previous success at the Ningbo Open in 2025 was pivotal in her season, leading to her securing the last spot in the eight-player WTA Finals field the following week. Rybakina's momentum continued as she won the season finale and subsequently captured the Australian Open title in January, followed by her third Grand Slam crown at the US Open last month.
She expressed hope that her victory in Ningbo would provide her with motivation and good energy for the remainder of the season and the upcoming one. Rybakina's recent performance follows a defeat in her first match as world number one in Beijing and an injury-enforced absence from Wuhan.
Plus234Feed summary based on reporting from Blueprint. Read the original report below.
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