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As the season enters its final stretch, one singles place remains up for grabs at the WTA Finals in Indian Wells. Seven players have qualified: Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Mirra Andreeva, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Elina Svitolina and Linda Noskova.

Three players remain in contention for the last spot: Karolina Muchova (No. 7, 4,735 points), Iga Swiatek (No. 9, 4,189) and Marta Kostyuk (No. 10, 3,920). Muchova is not playing  this week, so her qualification chances depend on how the other two fare in Ningbo.

The scenario is fairly straightforward: 

• If Swiatek does not reach the quarterfinals and Kostyuk does not reach the final, Muchova secures the last spot.

That means, of course, a deeper run by either Swiatek or Kostyuk would keep the race open.

After a season-long race, the world's top players converge in the California desert with the WTA's biggest title still to be won.

Swiatek, the No. 2 seed, will play Marie Bouzkova, while Kostyuk will open against Hanyu Guo or Ekaterina Alexandrova. Swiatek and Kostyuk are in the same half of Ningbo’s 28-player draw and could meet in the semifinals. 

The WTA Finals begin Nov. 8 in Indian Wells.