Rybakina Captures 10th Career Title in Ningbo, Keeps Riyadh Hopes Alive

Elena Rybakina lost the opening set of Sunday’s Ningbo final, a rude reminder that she was facing a talented Russian whom she had lost three of four previous matches to. 

Undaunted, the former Wimbledon champion struck back and claimed a hard-fought 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory to book her tenth career title and significantly increase her changes of reaching this year’s WTA Finals in Riyadh. 

Rybakina, currently ninth in the race to Riyadh standings, needs to reach the semifinals next week in Tokyo to pass Mirra Andreeva for the final spot. 

She won her second title of the year on Sunday, winning 12 of the final 14 games to improve to 2-3 lifetime against 10th-ranked Alexandrova. 

Rybakina reeled off nine straight games from the start of the second set to improve to 7-15 when losing the first set this season. Rybakina sent 11 aces flying and won 88 percent of her first-serve points (35 of 40) in total. She 49-19 for the season overall.

Rybakina will face either Leylah Fernandez, this week’s champion in Osaka, or Maria Sakkari in her first match at Tokyo next week. Rybakina is seeded second at the 500-level event.

More to follow.