Elena Rybakina starts 2026 Ningbo Open with victory

World No. 1 Elena Rybakina opened her 2026 Ningbo Open campaign with a win over Uzbekistan’s Polina Kudermetova (World No. 105). Kudermetova retired after Rybakina took a 5-0 lead. Rybakina is defending the title she won in China last year.

Rybakina had a first-round bye at the WTA 500 event in Ningbo. Meanwhile, 23-year-old Kudermetova, who has represented Uzbekistan since 2025, defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucșa (World No. 38) 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 in the first round.

The players had faced each other only once before, at the 2023 Berlin Open. Rybakina won 6-4, 6-2 on grass in Berlin.

Rybakina will face Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa (World No. 128) in the quarterfinals. Kawa has already secured two wins in Ningbo, defeating Ukraine’s Daria Snigur (World No. 40) 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 and Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic (World No. 14) 7-5, 6-2.

Kazakhstani players Yulia Putintseva and Anna Danilina have been eliminated from the Ningbo Open. Putintseva, meanwhile, lost in both the singles and doubles draws.