A Bittersweet Exit for the World's Best
Elena Rybakina's week in Tokyo swung from a career high to an early exit in the space of 24 hours. The 27-year-old Kazakh star had just clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking for the first time in her career, after defeating Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 in the round of 16 at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. However, a nagging injury forced her to withdraw before a single point was played in her quarterfinal against Leylah Fernandez. Speaking to fans on court in Tokyo, Rybakina explained she had been dealing with the problem for several days and could not compete at full intensity, especially with the WTA Finals beginning on November 8 on the horizon. The Achilles issue that has troubled her on and off throughout 2026 appears to be the culprit. Rybakina still pocketed around 108 ranking points and nearly 25,000 pounds in prize money for reaching the last eight. Her total now sits at 9,501 points, with Aryna Sabalenka a considerable distance behind in second place at 7,550.
Fernandez Keeps Rolling Into the Last Four
Leylah Fernandez, who lost to Rybakina in last week's Ningbo Open final, was denied a chance at immediate revenge but advances to the semifinals regardless. The 24-year-old Canadian, who captured the Singapore Open in September, now faces lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova for a spot in the Tokyo final. A tournament victory could lift Fernandez as high as 16th in the world rankings, capping a remarkable late-season surge. Meanwhile, Rybakina faces a tight turnaround: missing the WTA Finals would be costly, and a potential absence from Indian Wells early in 2027 could see her hard-earned ranking points drop, making her top position vulnerable at the start of next season. TennisDraw users tracking Fernandez's run had her as a rising bracket pick heading into the final stages of this event.
