Key Takeaways
- Elena Rybakina successfully defended her Ningbo Open crown by beating Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2.
- The victory represents Rybakina’s 1st tournament title since claiming the world No. 1 ranking and the 15th singles title of her career.
- Rybakina preserved an unblemished 8-0 lifetime record at the event while earning a tour-leading 4th title of the season.
Dominant performance seals back-to-back trophies in Ningbo
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina earned her first tournament victory since ascending to the top ranking by defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final on Sunday.
Facing the 30th-ranked Canadian and former 2021 US Open finalist, Rybakina displayed clinical serving under pressure. She successfully erased all 4 break points she encountered throughout the contest and sealed the victory on her first match point by firing an emphatic forehand winner.
Flawless Ningbo record and a tour-leading 4th title of 2026
The triumph marked Rybakina’s 4th title of the season, leading the tour alongside her previous victories at the Australian Open, Stuttgart and the US Open. It also represents the 15th singles crown of her career.
Rybakina had overtaken Aryna Sabalenka for the world No. 1 position after her US Open triumph, though she suffered an unexpected early exit at the China Open when she was upset in her opening match by 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva.
With her latest win, Rybakina preserved her pristine form at the tournament, improving her career record at the Ningbo Open to 8-0 after previously capturing the championship against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the tournament’s prior edition.
WTA Tokyo - Elena Rybakina's projected path
Elena Rybakina in 2026
Currently ranked no.1, Rybakina played her last match on the 25th of October when she defeated world no.30 Leylah Annie Fernandez 6-2 6-2 in the final in Ningbo to win her 14th career title.
At present, during this year Elena has an overall 53-14 record. Rybakina has won 4 titles in 2026 at the Australian Open, Stuttgart, U.S. Open and Ningbo.
