Canada’s Leylah Fernandez advanced to the semifinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Friday, October 30, 2026, after world No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from their quarterfinal match due to a neck injury.
The sudden withdrawal brought an abrupt end to Rybakina’s tournament run in Tokyo. Rybakina addressed fans directly on the court to announce she could no longer continue, explaining that inflammation and pain in her neck had severely limited her ability to compete at her highest level.
“Dear fans, I’m very sorry to announce that I’ve had to withdraw from my next match,” Rybakina said in a statement published by the Women’s Tennis Association. “Unfortunately, I’ve been experiencing inflammation and pain in my neck, which has been affecting my ability to play at my best. It’s a very difficult decision, as I love playing here and always appreciate the incredible support from the fans.”
Physical Strain and Tournament Realities
Rybakina noted that she had been struggling with the physical issue for several days.
Elena Rybakina withdraws from Pan Pacific Open due to injury https://t.co/EdWGw8zEwe
The exit comes immediately after a major milestone. With her victory over Yulia Putintseva earlier in the week, Rybakina officially secured the WTA year-end No. 1 singles ranking presented by PIF for the first time in her career. That achievement capped an exceptional 2026 campaign featuring two Grand Slam titles.
Fernandez Secures Semifinal Berth Against Rakhimova
For Fernandez, hailing from Laval, Quebec, the walkover grants direct passage to the final four. She moves forward to face Kamilla Rakhimova.
Rakhimova punched her ticket to the semifinals after a grueling battle against Maya Joint. The Uzbekistan native dropped the opening games before staging a comeback.
| Matchup / Stage | Player A | Player B | Score / Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterfinal | Elena Rybakina | Leylah Fernandez | Walkover (Rybakina withdrew due to neck injury) |
| Quarterfinal | Kamilla Rakhimova | Maya Joint | 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 |
| Quarterfinal | Diana Shnaider | Alexandra Eala | 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 |
| Quarterfinal | Mia Pohankova | Alycia Parks | 7-6 (3), 6-3 |
Rakhimova rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the opening set to capture it 7-5. Although Joint responded by taking the second set by the exact same score, Rakhimova dominated the deciding third set 6-1 to seal her first semifinal appearance at the WTA 500 level.
Remaining Draws in Tokyo
The other quarterfinal clashes brought contrasting contests on the Tokyo hard courts. No. 3-seeded Diana Shnaider overcame a slow start to defeat No. 8 Alexandra Eala 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Shnaider advances to face teenage wild card entry Mia Pohankova. The Slovakian teenager, who celebrated her 18th birthday just last week, defeated Alycia Parks 7-6 (3), 6-3 to secure her place among the final four.
