The uncertainty around Elena Rybakina and Alexandra Eala has now largely disappeared: both look set to compete at the 2026 Ningbo Open.
The latest official tournament information places Rybakina among the projected seeds and Eala among the direct main-draw entrants. Tournament social-media posts have also confirmed that both players are in Ningbo, while the WTA’s latest preview still includes them in the field.
Eala’s situation looks especially clear.
She arrived in Ningbo on Friday evening, with the tournament’s X account welcoming her on arrival with the message, “Good to see you in Ningbo, Alexandra Eala.”
Rybakina has arrived as well.
The Ningbo Open’s official account posted on Friday that its 2025 champion was back in Ningbo, strengthening the expectation that the world No. 1 intends to defend her title.
Rybakina Still Has One Important Test to Pass
For Eala, the situation looks straightforward.
For Rybakina, there is still one question left before match play: how her body responds once she returns to full training.
She looked physically uncomfortable during her Beijing defeat to Alina Charaeva, then withdrew from Wuhan with a foot injury. Rybakina said she would take some time to rest and recover.
She returned to her Dubai base, where social-media posts later showed her enjoying some downtime away from the court, including restaurant outings.
Now the competitive part starts again, with 500 ranking points to defend.
Qualifying in Ningbo is already underway, and the main draw begins on October 19.
Her arrival in Ningbo therefore matters, but it does not answer every question. After Beijing and the Wuhan withdrawal, her first serious training sessions should provide the clearest indication of how well her body has recovered.
Barring a late physical setback, however, both Rybakina and Eala are now set to play the Ningbo Open.