Portugal Colonial - Top-ranked Rybakina crushes Fernandez to win fourth title of season

The top seed and defending champion cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over the world number 30 from Canada.

Rybakina, the Australian and US Open champion, collected her 15th WTA crown in all and went a long way towards securing the year-end number-one ranking.

Rybakina broke and then held her own serve with a delicious two-handed crosscourt backhand for a 4-2 lead in the opening set.

The Moscow-born Kazakh immediately put Fernandez under pressure again on the Canadian's serve and it was soon 5-2 to the reigning champion when her opponent fired into the net.

The 27-year-old Rybakina, who missed this month's Wuhan Open with a foot injury, began to turn the screw and sealed the set to love in under 40 minutes.

Fernandez, who was looking to win her second title in as many months, was broken once more as a clinical Rybakina grabbed a 2-1 second-set lead.

Rybakina saw off two break points in the fourth game to hold, and with that, Fernandez's resistance was broken.

Rybakina was within sight of retaining her trophy after breaking once more for 5-2, then sealed the deal on her first championship point with a searing forehand.

P.Cavaco--PC