By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 25, 2026
Photo credit: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Elena Rybakina shared she celebrated her US Open title run by “sleeping a lot.”
World No. 1 Rybakina remains wide awake at title time.
The top-seeded Rybakina repelled Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 to successfully defend her Ningbo crown, collecting her 15th career championship.
An imposing Rybakina ripped 25 winners—15 more than the Canadian left-hander—and saved all five break points she faced in a 76-minute triumph.
It is Rybakina’s WTA-best fourth title of the season following championships at the Australian Open, Stuttgart and the US Open.
“I want to congratulate Leylah with a great week, a lot of tough matches, tough wins,” Rybakina said. “Congratulations to you and your team and good luck the rest of the year.
“I would like to say thank you to my team.”
A committed closer, Rybakina is now 7-2 in finals since the start of the 2025 season.
The 27-year-old Rybakina improved to 8-0 lifetime in Ningbo.
Reigning WTA Finals champion Rybakina raised her 2026 record to 53-14.
The 2021 US Open finalist Fernandez had won 13 of her last 16 matches entering the final, including her sixth career championship in Singapore last month.
Ultimately, Rybakina’s heavy serving and flat strikes were too much for Fernandez, who fell to 28-25 on the season.
“I would like to congratulate Elena for a wonderful week, a wonderful year,” Fernandez said.
0 comments