Rybakina pulls out of Tokyo with neck injury, Fernandez into semis

Neck problem ends Rybakina's Tokyo week

Elena Rybakina has pulled out of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. The world No. 1 withdrew from Friday's quarter-final against Leylah Fernandez with a neck injury, a day after she secured the year-end top ranking. The Canadian goes through to the semi-finals on a walkover.

"I've been experiencing inflammation and pain in my neck, which has been affecting my ability to play at my best," Rybakina said in a statement published by the WTA. Instead of playing, the top seed went out on court in Tokyo to speak to the crowd, and according to reports she told fans she hoped to see them again next year.

The decision looks like a precaution. On Thursday, the 27-year-old Kazakh beat compatriot Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 in the last 16. That result made her the year-end No. 1 for the first time in her career. It caps a 2026 season in which she won two Grand Slam titles. With the top spot already secured, protecting her neck before the WTA Finals in Indian Wells next month is the clear priority.

Déjà vu from 2025

Tokyo has seen this before. Twelve months ago, Rybakina also withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open, that time before her semi-final against Linda Noskova. She cited back pain. A day earlier she had clinched the last remaining place at the WTA Finals, partly thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 win over Fernandez in her opening match. "I'm very sorry I can't play today," she said then. A few weeks later she won the season-ending championships. Whether the neck problem is just as minor this time is not yet clear, but the pattern is familiar: the Kazakh is managing her body with the Finals in mind.

Fernandez gets a free pass to the last four

For Fernandez, the walkover is an unexpected bonus, and a quiet reversal of last year's defeat by Rybakina at the same event. The Canadian reached the quarter-finals by beating Elise Mertens 6-2, 7-6 in the round of 16. Instead of facing the world No. 1, she gets a day off and goes into Saturday's semi-final fresh.

ATPEala wins nine straight games to beat Gibson and reach Tokyo quarters

That opponent is Kamilla Rakhimova. The Russian got into the main draw as a lucky loser and has made the most of her second chance. In Friday's quarter-final she beat Australian qualifier Maya Joint 7-5, 5-7, 6-1. According to the WTA, it is the first semi-final of her career at WTA 500 level.

A teenager in the other half

The other semi-final features one of the stories of the week. Slovak wild card Mia Pohankova, 18, followed her win over Naomi Osaka with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory over American Alycia Parks. She will play Diana Shnaider, who came from behind to end Alexandra Eala's run in three sets. With the top seed gone, the Tokyo title is open to all four semi-finalists.

Fernandez is now the highest-profile name left in the draw. A title in Tokyo would cap her autumn and give her a significant points boost before the off-season. Rybakina's focus has moved to Indian Wells, where she will try to finish her best season with the WTA Finals trophy.