The race for the final spot at the WTA Finals looks like it will come right down to the wire, but Mirra Andreeva could have given herself a disadvantage heading into the final few tournaments of the year.
Six of the eight spots for the WTA Finals have been confirmed, with Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Amanda Anisimova, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, and Jessica Pegula already qualifying for the event.
That leaves two spaces left with three players, Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, and Elena Rybakina, fighting it out for the spots.
World No. 9 Rybakina is putting pressure on the two women thanks to her run to the Ningbo Open semi-finals, after she defeated Paolini in the quarter-finals.
Andreeva looked to have the place wrapped up heading into the Asian swing, but a mixture of poor form and an incredibly strange decision means she could be the one to miss out.
Mirra Andreeva is set to miss the Japan Women’s Open
The Japan Women’s Open draw has been released and Andreeva is nowhere to be seen at the Tokyo tournament.
Rybakina and Paolini are both set to play the tournament, with both receiving byes straight into the second round.
Rybakina’s win against Paolini at the Ningbo Open has placed her inside the top eight, with just 11 points splitting the Kazakhstani and Andreeva.
With Andreeva missing out on the Japan Women’s Open, she’s given herself a mountain to climb in the remaining four tournaments of the year.
Rybakina could create a big lead if she wins the Ningbo Open and performs well at the Japan Women’s Open, leaving Andreeva with too much to do before the WTA Finals.
There are just four tournaments left before the WTA Finals after the Japan Women’s Open, with 250 tournaments, the Guangzhou Open, Hong Kong Open, Jiangxi Open, and Chennai Open to come.
Who will miss out on the WTA Finals?
Andreeva’s incredible season, which included an incredible Miami Open win as well as a Wimbledon quarter-final, looked to have nailed her qualification for the WTA Finals.
The star reached World No. 5 in July, but difficult form at the back-end of the year has seen her slip down the rankings.
The Russian was knocked out in the fourth round of the China Open and followed it up with second round exits in Wuhan and Ningbo.
It’s looking increasingly likely now that the star will miss out on the WTA Finals despite her supreme form at the start of the year.
