Andreeva and Kasatkina Advance to Ningbo Open Final After Opponents Retire
Mirra Andreeva and Daria Kasatkina have advanced to the final of the WTA 500 Ningbo Open after their semifinal opponents retired due to injuries.
Kasatkina, the No. 5 seed, was leading Paula Badosa 6-4 when the Spaniard retired due to dizziness. Badosa had previously withdrawn from the WTA 1000 in Wuhan due to illness.
Andreeva, a 17-year-old qualifier, was leading Karolina Muchova 6-2, 1-0 when the Czech retired with a back injury. Muchova had missed the first six months of 2024 after wrist surgery.
The withdrawals of Badosa and Muchova continue a trend of retirements at the Ningbo Open. Seven lucky losers have entered the field after the top three seeds, Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen, and Emma Navarro, all withdrew without playing a match.
Andreeva and Kasatkina will face off in the final on Sunday. It will be their first career meeting.
Kasatkina has won five of her seven career WTA singles titles at the WTA 500 level, but she has lost six of her last seven finals. Her only victory in that span came on grass in Eastbourne in June.
Andreeva, meanwhile, won her first tour-level crown at the WTA 250 level in Iasi, Romania in July.
The Ningbo Open has been plagued by injuries and withdrawals, but Andreeva and Kasatkina have emerged as the finalists. They will both be looking to win their second tournament title of 2024 on Sunday.
