On October 16, Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen announced her withdrawal from the WTA Ningbo Open due to health issues. With American player Navarro recently dropping out of both the Ningbo and Tokyo events, Zheng’s current ranking ensures she cannot be surpassed in points. This effectively secures her spot in the 2024 WTA Finals.

At just 22 years old, Zheng has achieved the remarkable feat of qualifying for the WTA Finals for the first time in her career, becoming the second Chinese woman to do so in singles, following Li Na.

Having recently faced Belarusian player Sabalenka in the final of the 2024 Wuhan Open, where she finished as the runner-up, Zheng was set to compete as the second seed in the Ningbo Open, which kicked off on October 14. The tournament, classified as a WTA 500 event, attracted several top-ranked players, with the top four seeds receiving a first-round bye.

In her withdrawal statement, Zheng expressed regret, stating, “I am very sorry to withdraw from Ningbo. After competing in the China Open and Wuhan Open, I developed some injuries and have caught a cold. I hope to return to Ningbo next year.”

According to the qualification rules, the top eight players in points rankings gain entry into the 2024 WTA Finals, but players who win Grand Slam titles and are ranked between eighth and twentieth automatically qualify. Czech player Krejcikova secured her spot early by winning Wimbledon and maintaining a position in the top 20. Thus, this year, only the top seven players could qualify for the Finals.

Previously, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Paulini, Rybakina, Pegula, and Krejcikova had already clinched their spots. Thanks to her strong performances in the China Open and Wuhan Open, along with Navarro’s exit, Zheng has locked in the final place.

Zheng expressed her pride in qualifying for the year-end Finals in just her third year on tour. She plans to focus on her physical and mental recovery to ensure she’s competitive at the event. “I hope to win, but I also want to enjoy the Finals because the opponents there are all top-tier players who have had incredible seasons,” she shared.

The 2024 WTA Finals will take place from November 2 to 9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.