WTA 500 Ningbo Open: [1] E. Rybakina def. [6] D. Shnaider 6-3, 7-5
![WTA 500 Ningbo Open: [1] E. Rybakina def. [6] D. Shnaider 6-3, 7-5](/media/site-21/58/001-cc4f746d.webp)
posted by u/Eris_Daughter_Of_Nyx · 2026-10-24 11:29 UTC
Lena will challenge Leylah Fernandez to reconfirm her title as champion.
It is worth noting that Lena, while serving, managed to close out the first set not on the first, not on the second, but on the eleventh set point.
## Top comments
1. u/Ok_Refuse3888 · 2026-10-24 11:30 UTC
Despite Elena's best efforts, she still won the second set.
2. u/Eris_Daughter_Of_Nyx · 2026-10-24 13:11 UTC
Even closing the first one was a remarkable roller coaster
3. u/Mother_Bar8511 · 2026-10-24 11:33 UTC
😂😭🤣
4. u/MathematicianDry5294 · 2026-10-24 12:21 UTC
hahaha...
5. u/AppropriateRabbit8 · 2026-10-24 11:30 UTC
Struggled to close out both sets but still a good win for rybakina, into her 6th final of the year.
Should be an interesting match against fernandez tomorrow considering their past matches
6. u/Haunting_Theory_8512 · 2026-10-24 11:46 UTC
she always makes it harder than it needs to be but still get the job done, classic rybakina rollercoaster
7. u/Sea_Chest4454 · 2026-10-24 11:32 UTC
We'll never forget those set points from set 1, Lena
Glad she won!! Cheers to another final!
8. u/Ok_Refuse3888 · 2026-10-24 11:44 UTC
It's actually A-40 — her advantage 🫠.
9. u/thebitternectar · 2026-10-24 11:43 UTC
Dude it's the serve.
I play tennis and every good server has a good side and bad side, also depends on the day/match aa well.
I have seen many times when I serve really good maybe on the deuce side but serve will totally go-out again and again on the ad side. It’s like wtf it’s the same good serve that’s winning me points on deuce side but won’t even go in on the add
10. u/pizzainmyshoe · 2026-10-24 11:31 UTC
I'm down for Rybakina and Fernandez playing one of their 3 sets matches that ends in a match tiebreak like Stuttgart or Washington.
11. u/turkish_baguette · 2026-10-24 11:32 UTC
I never ever want to see something like that Washington SF again in my life.
12. u/AppropriateRabbit8 · 2026-10-24 11:33 UTC
Yeah it went to three tiebreaks, and the only time in the entire match (out of 18 service games) that rybakina got broken was when she was serving for the match 😭
13. u/wasp9293 · 2026-10-24 11:34 UTC
Omg that match was a nightmare
14. u/Mammoth_Abalone_4441 · 2026-10-24 11:44 UTC
Why, what's wrong with 3 tiebreaks? That usually means both players are well matched and it's splitting hairs to see who will take it. Can be the best matches.
15. u/AppropriateRabbit8 · 2026-10-24 12:01 UTC
It wasn't fun for rybakina fans lol. It didn't help that she followed it up by losing from MP up to Mboko 2 weeks later 😭
16. u/turkish_baguette · 2026-10-24 12:03 UTC
That NA swing last season was nightmare after nightmare. 3 SFs loss in a row and then peaking Vondrousova…
17. u/aleztfu12 · 2026-10-24 12:25 UTC
I'm still frustrated about Vondrousova playing the match of her life on hard courts to take out Rybakina only to withdraw before the quarters against Sabalenka. 🙃🫠
18. u/jrc2081 · 2026-10-24 12:40 UTC
Yes that and the 2023 US open loss to Cirstea. Similar match where Cirstea's shots all seemed to land on the baseline.
I am glad she got her US open win this year.
19. u/aleztfu12 · 2026-10-24 12:55 UTC
In all fairness Rybakina was nursing a shoulder injury when she lost to Cirstea. And the Romanian at least managed to win one more match after she beat Elena (she lost to Muchova in the quarters that time), so that one doesn't frustrate me as much.
20. u/minzwashere · 2026-10-24 15:04 UTC
I have the tennis version of PTSD from that NA Swing last year