Rybakina set for Ningbo return as WTA Finals race continues

World No. 1 Elena Rybakina is set to return at the Ningbo Open after a foot injury forced her out of Wuhan, with the defending champion seeded first in the official draw.

The WTA 500 tournament’s main draw begins October 19 and concludes October 25. Rybakina has a first-round bye and is scheduled to meet the winner of Cristina Bucsa’s match against Polina Kudermetova, according to the current draw.

Rybakina has already qualified for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells. Iga Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk, the second and third seeds in Ningbo, are still pursuing the remaining qualifying place and hope to close the gap on No. 7 Karolina Muchova, the WTA reported in its October 17 draw analysis.

Swiatek and Kostyuk occupy the bottom half, where they could meet in the semifinals. Rybakina’s half includes fourth seed Iva Jovic, Belinda Bencic and Diana Shnaider.

The Kazakh won last year’s Ningbo title while chasing a place at the season-ending event. This year’s draw lists her planned return following the Wuhan withdrawal; her opening match has yet to be played.