Rybakina Survives 11 Set Points to Set Up Final Against Fernandez
The world number one secured a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Diana Shnaider, facing a similar left-handed challenge from Leylah Fernandez in Sunday's match.
By Hassan Lawson ·
Elena Rybakina converted her 11th set point to beat Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5, securing her spot in the Ningbo Open final. The victory allows the defending champion to attempt a back-to-back title win against unseeded Leylah Fernandez.
The 27-year-old world number one reached this round after a challenging fortnight. She suffered a heavy loss in Beijing before withdrawing from Wuhan due to a foot injury. Rybakina arrived at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre needing to stabilize her form ahead of the WTA Finals.
The match against the 13th-ranked Shnaider featured high intensity but inconsistent rhythm for the favorite. Rybakina controlled the opening set with aggressive baseline winners, though a mid-set slump forced a prolonged battle to close it out. She acknowledged the difficulty in post-match comments, noting that while her initial balls were strong, she struggled to finish the game despite numerous opportunities.
The second set mirrored the first, with Rybakina battling her first-serve accuracy. She broke serve to lead 4-3 but faced a setback when Shnaider broke her for love in the 10th game. Rybakina responded with powerful shots to regain the lead in the subsequent game and served confidently to secure the match.
Shnaider's left-handed style presented specific tactical challenges for Rybakina. The Russian player stated that switching patterns during rallies against a left-hander was difficult, though she was pleased to win in straight sets. Fernandez, who defeated Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 in the earlier semifinal, also plays left-handed, meaning Rybakina will face a similar test in the final.
The final is scheduled for Sunday at the Ningbo Open. Following this event, Rybakina will compete at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She will then begin defending her WTA Finals title at the tournament in Indian Wells starting November 8.
Rybakina described the final as a difficult undertaking, saying it is never easy to win consecutive trophies. She stated she will fight and give her all in the match against Fernandez.
Source: Al Jazeera
