Sports · Tennis · 1 hr ago
Muchova claims final WTA Finals spot after Kostyuk retires
Karolina Muchova secured the last place at the WTA Finals after Marta Kostyuk retired from a second-round match at the Ningbo Open in China.
Kostyuk withdrew after losing the first set 6-4 to Ekaterina Alexandrova and taking a medical timeout.
Kostyuk needed to reach the Ningbo final to prevent Muchova, who was not playing this week, from qualifying.
The season-ending WTA Finals take place Nov.
8-15 in Indian Wells, California.
Muchova’s qualification adds to a strong 2026, which included reaching the Wimbledon final and winning the Billie Jean King Cup with Linda Noskova for the Czech Republic.
Iga Swiatek had also been in contention but withdrew from Ningbo with a thigh injury and ended her season early.
Alexandrova advances to the Ningbo quarterfinals, where she will face Leylah Fernandez.
Karolina Muchova secured the final spot at the season-ending WTA Finals after Marta Kostyuk retired from her second-round match at the Ningbo Open.
Kostyuk retired after losing the first set 6-4 to Ekaterina Alexandrova and taking a medical timeout.
Kostyuk had needed to reach the Ningbo final to prevent Muchova, who was not playing that week, from qualifying.
The WTA Finals are scheduled for Nov. 8-15 in Indian Wells, California.
Iga Swiatek had also been in contention but withdrew from Ningbo with a thigh injury and ended her season early.
- Who
- Karolina Muchova qualified for the WTA Finals after Marta Kostyuk retired from her match.
- What
- Kostyuk’s retirement gave Muchova the final place in the season-ending tournament.
- When
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
- Where
- The Ningbo Open in Ningbo, China.
- Why
- Kostyuk needed to reach the final in Ningbo to stop Muchova from qualifying, but retired in the second round.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kostyuk lost the first set 6-4 to Ekaterina Alexandrova and retired after a medical timeout.
Muchova secured the final WTA Finals spot after Kostyuk’s retirement.
- Muchova
- Secured the final WTA Finals spot
- Kostyuk’s match
- Retired in the second round after losing the first set 6-4
- Tournament
- Ningbo Open, Ningbo, China
- WTA Finals dates
- Nov. 8-15, 2026
- WTA Finals venue
- Indian Wells, California