World No. 1 Elena Rybakina headlines 2026 Ningbo Open as WTA 500
The gist
Kazakhstani tennis player Elena Rybakina, world No. 1, headlines the 2026 Ningbo Open.
Results there can shape who qualifies for the season-ending WTA Finals.
How it unfolded
- 2023The 2023 Ningbo Tennis Open was held Sept 25-30 at Yinzhou Tennis Center as a WTA 250 tournament whose champion received 280 points.
- 2025Elena Rybakina defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final to win her tenth WTA Tour title; she is listed as defending champion of the 2025 edition.
- Oct 16, 2026The qualifying draw for the WTA 500 tournament, with a prize fund of $1,206,446, took place in Ningbo.