World No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from her Pan Pacific Open quarterfinal in Tokyo on Friday, handing a semifinal place to Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, according to the Associated Press report carried by Europe Says and AAP News. Rybakina said she could not play because of an undisclosed injury, according to the Associated Press account. Rybakina, the top seed in Tokyo and the reigning Australian and US Open champion, according to AAP News, had been the tournament favourite. Her withdrawal changes the shape of the semifinals, giving Fernandez a walkover into the last four without playing a quarterfinal match.
Fernandez benefits, Rybakina’s season in focus
Fernandez was given an armchair ride into the semifinals, according to AAP News, when Rybakina withdrew. For Fernandez, a semifinal place at a WTA 500 event is a significant result, even if it arrives without a quarterfinal win. She will now face Kamilla Rakhimova in the semifinals, according to the Associated Press account. Rybakina’s withdrawal, citing an undisclosed injury, according to the Associated Press account, will raise questions about her fitness for the rest of the season. As world No. 1, any injury concern is news in itself, and the lack of detail — described only as undisclosed — means fans and rivals will watch her next scheduled appearance closely.
Tokyo semifinals take shape
In the other completed quarterfinals on Friday, Rakhimova defeated Maya Joint 7-5, 5-7, 6-1, and Mia Pohankova beat Alycia Parks 7-6 (3), 6-3, according to the Associated Press account. Pohankova, who turned 18 last week and was a wild-card entry, according to the same account, will face the winner of the late quarterfinal between No. 3 seed Diana Shnaider and No. 8 seed Alex Eala, according to the Associated Press account. The Tokyo draw, which began on October 26 and runs to November 1, according to the WTA, has already produced surprises, with Pohankova’s run the standout story. Rybakina’s withdrawal adds another twist, but it does not diminish the achievement of the players who won their way into the semifinals on court.
What happens next in Tokyo
Fernandez versus Rakhimova will now be one semifinal, with Pohankova awaiting the Shnaider-Eala winner in the other, according to the Associated Press account. For Rybakina, the priority will be recovery and clarity about the injury. For the remaining players, the title is now more open than it looked at the start of the week — and that openness is what makes the final weekend in Tokyo worth watching.
