Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 in the Ningbo Open final on Sunday, securing her second title of the season and positioning herself for a potential WTA Finals qualification.
The World No. 9, now holding 10 career titles, must reach the semifinals at Tokyo's Pan Pacific Open to clinch the final spot in November's season-ending tournament in Riyadh. Current qualifiers include Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, and Coco Gauff among others.
Alexandrova dominated early, capitalizing on Rybakina's errors to claim the first set. But the Kazakh star rebounded emphatically, delivering a ruthless second-set shutout before sealing victory with aggressive net play in the decider.
"We'll keep pushing for more," said Rybakina, acknowledging her team's role in navigating a grueling season. The win marks a critical momentum shift as players approach the campaign's final stretch.
