Ningbo: Elena Rybakina claimed her first trophy since earning the No. 1 ranking, beating Leylah Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday to defend her Ningbo Open title and lift her first trophy as the world number one ahead of the WTA Finals next month.
Rybakina moved past Aryna Sabalenka into the top spot after the US Open but was then stunned by 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva in her opening match at the China Open.
The victory in Ningbo also helped the Kazakh to take a big step towards securing the year-end number one ranking, further burnishing a spectacular season.
"It's amazing to play in front of you... it's my second year here and my second win," Rybakina told the crowd in the eastern Chinese city.
It's Rybakina's tour-leading fourth title of the year to go with her Australian Open, Stuttgart and US Open trophies; and the 15th of her career.
Rybakina improved to 8-0 in her career at the Ningbo Open after beating Ekaterina Alexandrova in last season's final.
Against the 30th-ranked Fernandez, a US Open finalist in 2021, Rybakina saved all four break points she faced and produced a forehand winner on her first match point.
World number 30 Fernandez made a bright start to the next set but Rybakina absorbed the pressure and raised her level to force an error and break for 2-1, with the three-times Grand Slam champion breezing to victory from there.
Fernandez, who won the Singapore Open last month, remained upbeat despite a disappointing showing in the final and backed herself to finish the season strongly after a gruelling run of matches in Ningbo.
(With inputs from AP via PTI & Reuters)