The race toward the WTA Finals is getting more and more intriguing by the day. After Jasmine Paolini’s qualification, only one spot remains for the year-end tournament in Riyadh. It’s a tight battle between Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and the 18-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva. While the Kazakh has strengthened her chances with a victory in Ningbo, Andreeva’s fate is now in jeopardy, owing to an unexpected twist. And it may knock her out of the race.

After her shocking exit in the early rounds of the Ningbo Open last week, Andreeva’s hopes to qualify took a heavy blow. Her only way to confirm her place in Riyadh was to win her next campaign in Tokyo, at the Pan Pacific Open. However, in an unexpected turn of events, the teenager was forced to withdraw from the tournament as she was unable to obtain her visa in time.

“She [Andreeva] doesn’t have the visa to play in Tokyo,” revealed WTA pro Ellen Perez in response to a comment by a tennis fan questioning Andreeva’s withdrawal. With Andreeva out, the final spot for the 8-woman WTA Finals all comes down to how well Rybakina plays in Tokyo.

For Andreeva it’s an unwanted twist in an otherwise promising season, where her place in the WTA Finals (or lack thereof) will be decided for her due to bureaucracy. If Rybakina makes it to the semifinal in Tokyo, then it’s over for the Russian. Nonetheless, Andreeva has made some big strides this year, emerging as one of the most promising young players on tour.

At the start of the season, she won her maiden WTA 1000 title in Dubai. She extended the winning momentum further with a second straight 1000-level trophy at the Indian Wells. In the final, she beat World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. That said, her form took a dip toward the end of the season, contributing to the uncertainty around her year-end finals spot.

Mirra Andreeva’s WTA Finals chances marred by poor runs

After the US Open last month, Mirra Andreeva’s trajectory results have been inconsistent. At the China Open this month, she was unable to perform at her best, despite the pressure of WTA Finals qualification. British star Sonay Kartal beat her in the Round of 16 with a scoreline of 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.

Then in Wuhan, Andreeva couldn’t clear the first round. Germany’s Laura Siegemund bested her in a three-setter with a scoreline of 6-7, 6-3, 6-3. She was leading in this battle initially but couldn’t capitalize on that momentum.

Compounding her struggle was the poor result in Ningbo that has jeopardized her chances at making it to Riyadh. She once again failed to move beyond the first round at the event. China’s Zhu Lin dominated her in a tense battle, with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Now that she is unable to compete in Tokyo, her only chance is to hope Elena Rybakina loses early. But with the 26-year-old riding a wave of confidence after winning the Ningbo Open that Andreeva struggled at, the chances of it happening are dicey. Rybakina received a first-round bye and only needs to win her next two matches in Tokyo to book her ticket to Riyadh.

However, Elena Rybakina will be first up against Leylah Fernandez, who’s riding her own wave of confidence after winning the Japan Open days before. It will be intriguing to see how the fate transpires for the Russian WTA pro this week. Who will make it through: Andreeve or Rybakina? Let us know your prediction in the comments below.