Ningbo Open: Lucky Losers Dominate as Withdrawals Mount
The Ningbo Open, a WTA 500 event, has witnessed a significant influx of lucky losers, with a quarter of the field now filled by players who initially failed to qualify.
The tournament has been plagued by withdrawals, including Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, and most notably, home favorite Zheng Qinwen. Zheng’s absence has opened the door for Jaqueline Cristian, who lost in the opening round of qualifying but has now advanced to the second round to face Karolina Muchova.
The chaos continued when Kathinka Von Deichmann, who had also lost in qualifying, found herself involved in two first-round matchups between lucky losers. However, her hopes were dashed by Ella Seidel of Germany.
The situation took an even more bizarre turn when Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine revealed on social media that she was attempting to fly back to Ningbo as the No. 7 lucky loser in line. However, with Cristian already in the main draw, it appears that Starodubtseva has missed her chance.
Despite the disruptions, the tournament has progressed, with Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova emerging as the highest seed remaining at No. 4. Fifth seed Daria Kasatkina has advanced to the quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory over Katerina Siniakova, setting up a clash with Yulia Putintseva.
The Ningbo Open has provided a platform for both established stars and rising talents, with the unpredictable nature of the tournament adding an extra layer of excitement.