Rybakina reconnects with the taste of victory

How much Elena Rybakina desired to feel victorious again. The Kazakh hadn't won a WTA match since she was crowned champion of the US Open 2026, capping off a dominant Grand Slam season. Since then, she has battled an illness, constant physical issues, and the feeling of fragility that accompanied her at certain moments in her career (which she seemed to have left behind), in addition to a surprising defeat against the Armenian Charaeva in the first round of the WTA in Beijing.

If the Kazakh is physically fit, she is the top contender on the circuit to win it all. And that was certainly her return, dominant as ever... but also somewhat bittersweet: she dropped not a single game but won prematurely due to the retirement of Polina Kudermetova in the first set of the WTA Ningbo 2026 (5-0 and retired). No one wants to win due to an opponent's injury, but perhaps such a match was exactly what the Kazakh needed: a straightforward and quick victory to shake off the rust and reconnect with the feeling of winning.

Rybakina is the favorite to win in Ningbo: this is her possible path

The good news, furthermore, keeps coming for Elena: her path has been eased slightly following the surprising defeat of the fifth seed, Belinda Bencic, against Katarzyna Kawa, who is now the tournament's big surprise. Thus, the Polish player, coming from the qualifiers, will be Rybakina's opponent in the quarterfinals.

The path, however, may complicate slightly in the semifinals: on her side of the draw, a true showdown is confirmed in the quarterfinals between Iva Jovic and Diana Shnaider. From there would emerge the potential semifinal rival for the top favorite, who wants to continue building confidence before facing the WTA Finals as the defending champion. Quality tennis is assured here in Ningbo, no doubt about that.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Rybakina se reencuentra con el sabor de la victoria