Elena Rybakina beats Katarzyna Kawa with 6-1 deciding set in Ningbo quarterfinal

Rybakina establishes an early advantage

Top seed Elena Rybakina faced qualifier Katarzyna Kawa, ranked No. 128, in the women's singles quarterfinal on Center Court. The match ultimately lasted three sets, with Rybakina finishing with eight aces to Kawa's two across the completed contest.

Rybakina opened a 3-0 lead in the first set and kept Kawa from recovering that early deficit. A second break helped her take the opener 6-1. Her service numbers matched that start: she landed 83 percent of first serves and lost only two points on serve. She also struck 14 winners against four unforced errors during that opening set.

Kawa turns the second set around

Rybakina broke in the first game of the second set, but Kawa answered by moving ahead 4-1. Rybakina reduced the gap to 4-3 before Kawa completed the set 6-3, leveling the match at one set apiece and requiring a deciding third set.

The second set also brought a sharp change in Rybakina's serving and error totals. She made only 39 percent of first serves and committed five of her six double faults. Her nine winners were accompanied by 21 unforced errors as Kawa drew level.

Another three-game start proves decisive

Rybakina again won the first three games of a set, this time in the decider. Kawa took the next game to make it 3-1, but Rybakina won the final three. She won 13 of 15 first-serve points in that set, with six winners and two unforced errors.

Shnaider awaits in the semifinals

The victory took one hour and 45 minutes and secured Rybakina's second consecutive Ningbo semifinal appearance. Her next opponent is Diana Shnaider.