World number one Elena Rybakina retained her Ningbo Open title on Sunday 25 October 2026, beating Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-2 in the final, according to Reuters. It was the first time Rybakina has defended a title — and it came at the perfect time, just weeks before she defends her WTA Finals crown. Rybakina’s 2025 success in Ningbo proved the springboard for a stellar run, according to Reuters, as she secured the last spot in the eight-player WTA Finals field the following week, before winning the season finale and carrying that momentum into the current campaign. The 27-year-old Kazakh went on to capture the Australian Open title in January before claiming her third Grand Slam crown at the US Open last month.
A dominant final
Sunday’s final was one-sided. Rybakina won 6-2 6-2 against Fernandez, according to Reuters, after suffering defeat in her first match as world number one in Beijing and an injury-enforced absence from Wuhan. The win was her fourth title of the year and 15th overall, according to Reuters. “It’s the first time I’ve defended a title, so it’s a great achievement,” Rybakina told the WTA website, according to Reuters. “Ningbo is already a special place. Last year I started to play really well from this tournament. Hopefully it’s going to give me motivation and good energy to continue this season and start the next one.”
From nearly-woman to champion
Rybakina’s journey to the top has been remarkable. After losing nine of her first 13 finals, according to Reuters, she has now won 11 of her last 15. “I remember I was getting upset always losing in finals,” she said after the win, according to Reuters. “Now it’s going my way, but I can’t expect it all the time … now it’s experience clicking in important moments.” That experience will be crucial in the coming weeks. Rybakina plays in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo this week before heading to Indian Wells for the 8-15 November WTA Finals, where she went unbeaten last year to pocket over $5 million in prize money, according to Reuters.
Finals defence awaits
For Rybakina, Ningbo was more than just another title — it was a reminder of where her rise began, and a timely return to form before the season’s finale. If she plays in Indian Wells the way she played in Ningbo on Sunday, defending her WTA Finals title is a very real possibility. The world number one is back in form, at exactly the right time.
