Karolina Muchova secured the last spot at the season-ending WTA Finals on Wednesday, after Marta Kostyuk retired from her second-round match at the Ningbo Open.
Kostyuk retired following a medical timeout after losing the first set 6-4 to Ekaterina Alexandrova. The WTA Tour had said Kostyuk needed to reach the final in Ningbo to keep Muchova, who is not playing this week, from clinching the spot for the Nov. 8-15 finals in Indian Wells, Calif.
The qualification marks another landmark moment for Muchova in 2026. She reached the Wimbledon final, where she faced Linda Noskova, and later teamed up with Noskova to win the Billie Jean King Cup for the Czech Republic.
Iga Swiatek was also in contention for the finals spot until she withdrew from the Ningbo tournament with a thigh injury and said she was ending her season early.
Players Already Qualified
The other players who qualified for the finals are Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina and Noskova.
Other Results in Ningbo
Alexandrova advanced to a quarterfinal match against Leylah Fernandez, after the Canadian beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3. The win was Fernandez’s 11th in her last 14 matches.
Also on Wednesday, Sara Bejlek upset eighth-seeded Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (3), 6-4. She will face Marie Bouzkova in an all-Czech quarterfinal. Bouzkova beat Anastasia Zakharova 7-5, 6-2.