Ningbo Open Round-Up: Elena Rybakina storms to the title in ruthless display against Ekaterina Alexandrova

Elena Rybakina WTA Finals qualification has been delivered a huge boost after she defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 to win the Ningbo Open, her second title of 2025 and 10th senior title.

After losing the first set, Rybakina dropped just two games on the way to her first title in China after previously losing two finals in different events. She has triumphed in her last three finals she has reached, previously defeating Liudmila Samsonova in Strasbourg. She has added her second 500 title of the year in similar fashion, defeating a Russian player in three sets.

Enroute to the final Rybakina overcame Dayana Yastremska, Ajla Tomljanovic and Jasmine Paolini to set up a clash against Alexandrova, who in turn got the better of Yue Yuan, McCartney Kessler and Diana Schnaider without dropping a set.

Alexandrova was the faster out of the blocks, finding herself 3-0 ahead in the premature stages of the final. Rybakina got her first game on the board before a brace of break points came and went. The first set stayed on serve after that, with the receiver only taking four points in the final four games. Alexandrova comfortably claimed the first set with her second match point, bringing back memories of the Korea Open final where she found herself a set ahead of Iga Swiatek.

It would turn out to be deja vu for the 30-year-old, but unlike Seoul which was an extremely close tie, Rybakina ran away in this matchup. Alexandrova won just three points on the Kazakhstani's serve in the second set, failing to win a single game as Rybakina ominously powered through to level procedures.

She made it nine games on the spin, as she faced her first break point since the second game. She would face another near the end after Alexandrova stopped the rot, but she could do nothing about a rampant Rybakina from taking her first match point and sealing the title in Ningbo.

This was her maiden win over Alexandrova after previously faltering five times, she abruptly halted the Russian's opponent's grasp over her to award herself a golden opportunity of qualifying for the WTA Finals for the third year running. A semi-final in the upcoming Pan Pacific Open will do the job, and bump down teenage star Mirra Andreeva who is not making the trip to Tokyo. It will be a challenge for Rybakina, with her awaiting the winner of the Tokyo Open Leylah Fernandez of former world number three Maria Sakkari.