Mirra Andreeva's WTA Finals hopes hang in the balance as Lin Zhu continues 18-year-old's freefall

Mirra Andreeva's hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals hang in the balance after being defeated in the Ningbo Open in what was a vital tournament for her hopes of qualifying for the season ending tournament in Riyadh.

Andreeva was facing off against Lin Zhu who would've been buoyed as local favourite by defeating another player she wasn't expected to beat in Emma Raducanu yesterday who once again struggled with the heat in China. But it was another match where the pressure was on the big name as Zhu won 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

It is a tournament that also has ranking implications with a glut of points set to fall off as she reached the final of the tournament last year losing out to Daria Kasatkina in a final where in losing she was left in tears and had to be consoled on court. A same feat as last week in Wuhan.

Andreeva had a brilliant start to the season with wins at Dubai and Indian Wells but after getting injured in the middle of the year, everything has crumbled. Her qualification for the WTA Finals seemed very likely a few weeks ago but she is now in danger. She still holds one of the two remaining spots but isn't exactly fully safe. She is on 4,320 points compared to 4,131 and 3,913 for Paolini and Rybakina. The latter is likely out unless she reaches the latter stages.

But Andreeva losing throws it all up in the air and a good run from both could see Andreeva yet miss out in the final conundrum when it comes to the WTA Finals. Elsewhere Andreeva's doubles partner Diana Shnaider had less issues moving through. She saw off Karolina Muchova in a topsy turvy game.

It saw Shnaider win 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 coming back after losing the opener. Ajla Tomljanovic is also having a superb week and the Aussie ace saw off Zeynep Sonmez 7-6, 6-3 to also reach the third round. This after Belinda Bencic opened the day in Ningbo by defeating Yuliia Starodubtseva 5-7, 6-4, 7-5. So for Andreeva, a nervous wait awaits the 18-year-old in a feat that looked academic in parts of the season.