World No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open with neck inflammation, sending Leylah Fernandez into the Tokyo semi-finals by walkover. Kamilla Rakhimova rallied past Maya Joint in three sets, and 18-year-old wild card Mia Pohankova beat Alycia Parks to reach the last four.
Tokyo, Japan: The most significant moment of Friday’s quarter-finals at the WTA 500 event arrived without a ball being struck. Rybakina, who secured the year-end No. 1 ranking a day earlier, took herself out before facing Fernandez, and the draw opened up behind her.
Rybakina out with a neck problem
In a statement released by the WTA, Rybakina said she had been “experiencing inflammation and pain in my neck” and said she hoped to be back in Tokyo next year. The withdrawal sends Fernandez through to the last four without a match. It also comes with the WTA Finals in Indian Wells approaching, where Rybakina is the defending champion after winning the 2025 title. Her year-end top ranking, which she sealed on Thursday, is not affected.
Rakhimova survives a deciding set
Kamilla Rakhimova came back from 5-2 down in the first set to beat Maya Joint 7-5, 5-7, 6-1, reaching her first semi-final at WTA 500 level. Joint had levelled the match in the second set, but Rakhimova took the decider comfortably. She will face Fernandez for a place in the final.
Pohankova’s run continues
Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova, 18, entered the tournament as a wild card and is into the semi-finals after beating American Alycia Parks 7-6(3), 6-3. It extends a run that already included a win over Naomi Osaka. Her semi-final opponent was to come from the later quarter-final between third seed Diana Shnaider and eighth seed Alexandra Eala, who had come back from a set down against Talia Gibson in the previous round.
Pan Pacific Open (Tokyo), WTA 500, quarter-finals: Leylah Fernandez beat Elena Rybakina (walkover); Kamilla Rakhimova beat Maya Joint 7-5, 5-7, 6-1; Mia Pohankova beat Alycia Parks 7-6(3), 6-3.
Semi-finals: Fernandez v Rakhimova; Pohankova v winner of Shnaider–Eala.
