Ningbo Open 2026: Rybakina survives Kawa scare to reach semifinals, faces Diana Shnaider next

Elena Rybakina defeated qualifier Katarzyna Kawa in three sets to advance to the semifinal round. | Photo Credit: AFP

Top seed Elena Rybakina survived a scare against Polish qualifier Katarzyna Kawa to reach the Ningbo Open 2026 semifinals with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win on Friday.

Defending champion Rybakina took the opening set comfortably before World No. 128 Kawa, who had upset Belinda Bencic in the previous round, broke her serve three times to force a decider.

The Kazakh regained control in the final set to set up a semifinal clash with sixth seed Diana Shnaider, who defeated fourth seed Iva Jovic 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

Shnaider will be aiming for another appearance in the Ningbo final, having finished runner-up in 2023.

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In the other half, Canada’s Leylah Fernandez rallied past Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to reach her second semifinal of the season.

Fernandez, who won the Singapore title on her previous semifinal appearance this year, will face Marie Bouzkova after the Czech beat compatriot Sara Bejlek 6-3, 6-4.

Earlier, Karolina Muchova secured the final WTA Finals qualification spot after Marta Kostyuk retired from the tournament with a wrist injury and Iga Swiatek withdrew due to a thigh problem.