For the second straight year, Elena Rybakina is into the Ningbo final, though her path there has been anything but easy.

After being pushed to three sets by surprise qualifier Katarzyna Kawa in the quarterfinals, the World No. 1 needed 11 set points to capture the opening set against Diana Shnaider in Saturday night's semifinal. She also was broken to love while serving for the match before ultimately securing a 6-3, 7-5 victory in 1 hour, 35 minutes.

The challenge won't get any easier in the final. Rybakina will face Leylah Fernandez, who continued her strong Asian Swing by winning the final three games to defeat Marie Bouzkova 6-3, 7-5 in 1 hour, 58 minutes. The Singapore champion advanced to her second final of the season and the 10th of her career.

After a season-long race, the world's top players converge in the California desert with the WTA's biggest title still to be won.

The final will be the sixth WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz meeting between Rybakina and Fernandez and their first in a championship match. It also marks the 28th career final for Rybakina. Earlier this year, Rybakina earned her first repeat title in Stuttgart. She will now try to match that feat in Ningbo and successfully defend her title.

"It's never easy, and of course I will try to do my best," Rybakina said in her on-court interview. "I will give my all tomorrow. I'm going to fight."