Rybakina won the Ningbo Open for the second straight year, dismantling Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 in the final. The victory marks her first title since ascending to world No. 1, something she'll need to keep doing if she wants to hold onto that ranking.
Fernandez never found her rhythm against Rybakina's power game. The Canadian won just four games across two sets. Rybakina controlled the match from start to finish, dictating points with her serve and groundstrokes.
This is the kind of statement Rybakina needed to make. Reaching No. 1 is one thing. Staying there requires backing it up with wins at the biggest moments. She did exactly that in Ningbo, defending a title on a hard court where she clearly thrives. Now she heads into the end of the season with momentum and proof that her ranking isn't a fluke.