Rybakina pulls out of Pan Pacific Open citing back pain before semifinal match

Rybakina pulls out of Pan Pacific Open citing back pain before semifinal match | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland's Belinda Bencic plays a shot against United States' Sofia Kenin during their women's singles semi-final match at the Pan Pacific Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Original Publication Date: October 25, 2025 2:16AM
Publication Updated: October 25, 2025 4:39AM

TOKYO (AP) — Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open on Saturday, citing a back problem a day after her quarterfinal victory clinched the last remaining spot for the WTA Finals.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion was due to face Linda Noskova in the semifinals at the Tokyo tournament.

“I’m very sorry I can’t play today,” Rybakina said in a statement. ”I have been having problems with my back this week and can’t play 100%.”

Noskova will face Belinda Bencic in Sunday’s final after the Swiss player beat Sofia Kenin 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2 in the other semifinal match.

Bencic heads into her 10th career final, which comes 10 years after her previous Pan Pacific Open final appearance, a loss in 2015 to Agnieszka Radwanska. Bencic also won the Olympic singles gold medal and doubles silver in Tokyo four years ago.

Rybakina beat Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Friday to take the eighth spot for next month’s lucrative WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

At the WTA Finals, scheduled Nov. 1-8, Rybakina will join top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini.

Gauff is the defending champion in Riyadh. The American beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in last year’s final and received $4.8 million in prize money.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Rybakina pulls out of Pan Pacific Open citing back pain before semifinal match | iNFOnews.ca
Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic celebrates after winning the women’s singles semi-final match against United States’ Sofia Kenin at the Pan Pacific Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)
Rybakina pulls out of Pan Pacific Open citing back pain before semifinal match | iNFOnews.ca
United States’ Sofia Kenin plays a shot against Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic during their women’s singles semi-final match at the Pan Pacific Open WTA 500 tennis tournament in Tokyo, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Louise Delmotte)

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