11 set points: Rybakina survives to face Fernandez in Ningbo final

Elena Rybakina converted her 11th set point of the match to defeat Diana Shnaider 6-3, 7-5 in the Ningbo Open semifinal on Saturday. The victory secures the world number one's spot in Sunday's final, where she will attempt to claim the title for the second consecutive year. Her opponent will be unseeded Canadian Leylah Fernandez, who advanced by defeating Marie Bouzkova with the same 6-3, 7-5 scoreline earlier at the Yinzhou International Tennis Centre.

Rybakina arrived in the eastern Chinese city after a turbulent run. She suffered a heavy loss in Beijing and subsequently withdrew from the Wuhan tournament due to a foot injury. Despite these setbacks, the Australian Open and US Open champion produced moments of high-quality tennis against the 13th-ranked Shnaider, though the match remained tight.

The first set featured a strong start by Rybakina, who hit powerful winners from deep in the court. A temporary dip in form extended the duration of the set. Rybakina noted that the deciding game was difficult, stating, "It was an important game, and it was a long one." She added that while her initial shots were effective, closing out the game proved challenging despite multiple opportunities.

The second set mirrored the pattern of the first. The 27-year-old three-time Grand Slam winner struggled with first-serve accuracy but managed to break serve to lead 4-3. Shnaider responded by breaking Rybakina to love in the 10th game. Rybakina recovered with aggressive hitting to retake the lead in the 11th game, then served with confidence to secure the win in two sets.

Rybakina acknowledged that Shnaider's left-handed style presented specific tactical challenges. "She played really well, and it's always difficult to play against left-handers," Rybakina said. She explained that switching patterns during rallies was an issue but expressed satisfaction with winning in straight sets. Fernandez, who is also left-handed, will present a similar tactical test in the final.

Following Sunday's final, Rybakina is scheduled to compete in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo next week. She will then travel to Indian Wells to begin the defense of her WTA Finals title on November 8. Regarding the prospect of winning back-to-back trophies in Ningbo, Rybakina remained focused on the immediate task. "It's never easy," she said. "Of course I'll try to do my best. I'm going to fight and give my all tomorrow."