Ningbo Open suffers setback with top-ranked players withdrawal

A host of stars’ withdrawal from the ongoing Ningbo Open has reduced its attraction for fans. The WTA 500 event is currently underway in Ningbo, where some of the top players were expected to participate to secure the ultimate prize.

However, a host of withdrawals from star players have reduced the fans' attraction to the competition. As many as seven players ended up withdrawing from the tournament, exceeding the number of players qualified for the competition through the qualifying round.

The most high-profile withdrawal was that of two-time Grand Slam runner-up this year Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. America’s Emma Navarro was another high-profile player withdrawing from the tournament. China’s Zheng Qinwen, who was the home crowd favourite, also decided not to take part in the mega-event after her impressive run in Beijing and Wuhan.

She lost in the semifinal of the China Open to Karolina Muchova in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4. The 22-year-old then finished as the runner-up in the Wuhan Open where she lost to Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka with a score of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

With the withdrawal of so many players, seven players who originally lost in the qualifying round, managed to book their spot in the main round of the competition. Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova is now the top seed in the competition. The other notable players include the likes of world number 11 Daria Kasatkina of Russia, world number 10 Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, world number 12 Anna Kalinskaya and world number 15 Spain’s Paula Badosa.

The ongoing event is the only second edition of the competition. The tournament was started last year. It was Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur who ended up lifting the title in the inaugural edition by beating the current world number 16 Russia’s Diana Shnaider in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-1.