First title as world No. 1: Rybakina defends her Ningbo crown
Elena Rybakina has won the WTA event in Ningbo for the second year running. The world No. 1 gave Leylah Fernandez no chance in a 6-2, 6-2 final – her fourth title of the season.
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Elena Rybakina has defended her title at the WTA 500 event in Ningbo. The Kazakh beat Canada's Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 in Sunday's final. She broke for 4-2 in the first set and early for 2-1 in the second, and according to the WTA sealed the match with her 24th winner.
It is Rybakina's first tournament win since becoming world No. 1 and the 15th title of her career. She had already won the Australian Open, Stuttgart and the US Open this season; with four titles and 53 match wins she leads the tour outright in both categories, according to Tennis Majors. "It's already my second year here, second win. It's such a special place for me," Rybakina said.
Fernandez was playing the tenth final of her career, a month after winning in Singapore. "We're having a good end of year. We just gotta keep going, keep working hard," the Canadian said.