Daily Fuzz
Leylah Fernandez has won 15 of her last 19 matches.
Richard PagliaroOctober 30, 20262 minute read
By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, October 30, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Leylah Fernandez extended her Asian run taking a walkover into the Tokyo semifinal.
World No. 1 Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Toray Pan Pacific Open due to a neck injury sending Fernandez into the semifinal on a walkover.
“Dear fans, I’m very sorry to announce that I’ve had to withdraw from my next match,” Rybakina said a statement. “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. I hope to be back again next year. Thank you all for your understanding and support.”
Last Sunday, the top-seeded Rybakina repelled Fernandez 6-2, 6-2 to successfully defend her Ningbo crown, collecting her 15th career championship.
An imposing Rybakina ripped 25 winners—15 more than the Canadian left-hander—and saved all five break points she faced in a 76-minute triumph.
The 2021 US Open finalist Fernandez has won 15 of her last 19 matches, a hard-court surge that includes collecting her sixth title in Singapore and her run to the Ningbo final.
The 23rd-ranked Fernandez will play for her 11th career final when she faces Kamilla Rakhimova in the semifinals.
Lucky loser Rakhimova defeated Aussie qualifier Maya Joint 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 to advance to her maiden WTA 500 semifinal.
Slovak wild card Mia Pohankova defeated American Alycia Parks 7-6(3), 6-3 to power into her maiden Tokyo semifinal.
The 18-year-old Pohankova shocked former No. 1 Naomi Osaka 6-3, 7-5 on Thursday and backed up that momentous victory today.
World No. 144 Pohankova has not dropped a set reaching the semifinals where she will face Roland Garros semifinalist Diana Shnaider.
In an all-lefty clash, the third-seeded Shnaider stopped Alexandra Eala 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 in a two hour, 52-minute battle.
The quarterfinal escalated into audacious shotmaking from both women: Eala cracked 45 winners and Shnaider smacked 43 winners.
“This match deserved to be a final,” said Shnaider in her on-court interview afterward. “It was an insane level of tennis from both of us. I didn’t believe I would be able to pull that win off, because she played insane.
“I was just trying to remind myself to keep fighting for every point, and that paid off.”
It is Shnaider’s fifth semifinal of the season and second straight final four appearance.