Karolina Muchova clinched the last spot at the season-ending WTA Finals after Marta Kostyuk retired from her second-round match at the Ningbo Open on Wednesday.
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.
A Landmark Year for Muchova
Reaching the finals marks another milestone for Muchova in 2026. She made the Wimbledon final against Linda Noskova, then 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.
The Field Set for the Finals
The other players who have 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 in Ningbo against Leylah Fernandez. The Canadian beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-3 to earn her 11th win in her last 14 matches.
Also on Wednesday, Sara Bejlek upset eighth-seeded Sorana Cirstea 7-6 (3), 6-4. Bejlek will face Marie Bouzkova in an all-Czech quarterfinal. Bouzkova won 7-5, 6-2 against Anastasia Zakharova.