Kostyuk retires in Ningbo – Muchová qualifies for her first WTA Finals
Without playing, Karolína Muchová has secured the last ticket for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells: rival Marta Kostyuk had to retire in Ningbo after the first set.
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The WTA Finals field is set. Karolína Muchová claimed the eighth and final singles place on Wednesday without hitting a ball: her last challenger, Marta Kostyuk, retired from her second-round match against Ekaterina Alexandrova in Ningbo after losing the first set 6-4 and taking a medical timeout. According to the WTA, the third-seeded Ukrainian needed to reach the final to overtake Muchová. The WTA gave no reason for the retirement.
It will be the Czech's first appearance at the season finale. The field in Indian Wells (8–15 November) also includes Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina and Linda Nosková. Iga Świątek had already ended her season early.
In Ningbo, Alexandrova meets Leylah Fernandez in the quarter-finals. The Canadian beat qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3 after 3 hours 3 minutes – according to AP, her 11th win in her last 14 matches.