Andreeva and Kasatkina Advance to Ningbo Open Final Amid Retirements

Mirra Andreeva and Daria Kasatkina have advanced to the final of the WTA 500 Ningbo Open after their respective semifinal opponents retired mid-match. The withdrawals mark a continuation of a series of retirements and withdrawals that have impacted this year’s tournament.

In the first semifinal match, fifth seed Daria Kasatkina moved to the final after Paula Badosa retired due to dizziness. Kasatkina had just secured a 6-4 win in the first set when Badosa decided to withdraw. “I feel sorry for Paula and I wish her all the best,” Kasatkina expressed, noting the difficulty of finishing a match under such circumstances.

Rain delays complicated the semifinal, with Kasatkina and Badosa initially facing disruptions on the court. Nevertheless, Kasatkina managed to win three consecutive games to close out the opening set before Badosa’s retirement. This marks Kasatkina’s sixth singles final of the year, all of which have been at WTA 500 events.

In the day’s late semifinal, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva advanced when Karolina Muchova opted to retire due to a back injury. Leading 6-2, 1-0, Andreeva’s dominant start was cut short as Muchova stopped play. “I’m just happy with the way I managed to play the first set,” Andreeva stated after the match, wishing her opponent a speedy recovery.

Currently ranked at a career-high No. 19, Andreeva is contending in her second career WTA singles final and her first at the WTA 500 level. She had previously won her first WTA title at the 250 level on the clay courts of Iasi.

These semifinal retirements are part of a wider pattern at the event, with various withdrawals disrupting the tournament. Notably, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen, and Emma Navarro, originally seeded to play, withdrew prior to the commencement of matches. Additionally, Barbora Krejcikova retired from her quarterfinal match against Andreeva also due to a back injury.

The upcoming final will be the first meeting between Kasatkina and Andreeva. Both players will compete for their second tournament win of the year, with Kasatkina seeking to add another WTA 500 title to her record, while Andreeva aims for a higher level victory to continue her burgeoning career.