World No. 1 Elena Rybakina announced her withdrawal from the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals in Tokyo on Friday, citing an undisclosed injury that has hindered her performance for several days. The 27-year-old, who represents Kazakhstan, addressed spectators on-court to explain that she could not compete at full capacity, ultimately granting Canada’s Leylah Fernandez a walkover into the semifinals.
Rybakina’s decision to exit the tournament follows a successful week in which she secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking after defeating Yulia Putintseva. The injury, which reportedly stems from issues sustained earlier this season at the Cincinnati Open, has prompted the top seed to prioritize her health ahead of the WTA Finals scheduled for November 8–15 in Indian Wells, California. This marks the second consecutive year Rybakina has withdrawn from the Tokyo event; she previously pulled out of the semifinals in 2025.
The tournament landscape has shifted significantly following her departure. Leylah Fernandez is set to face Kamilla Rakhimova in the semifinals. Rakhimova earned her spot after a hard-fought victory over Maya Joint, finishing 7-5, 5-7, 6-1. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Slovakian wild-card entry Mia Pohoňová continued her impressive run by defeating Alycia Parks 7-6(3), 6-3. Pohoňová will compete against the winner of the match between Alex Eala and Diana Shnaider for a place in the final.
Rybakina, who has enjoyed a dominant season highlighted by victories at both the Australian Open and the U.S. Open, expressed her disappointment to the fans in Tokyo. Her focus now remains entirely on rehabilitation to ensure she is prepared for the season-ending championships. Having already claimed three Grand Slam titles in her career, including Wimbledon in 2022, the world No. 1 is aiming to maintain her momentum as she closes out a highly successful campaign.
