“Of course, all the focus is going to the WTA Finals,” said a jubilant Elena Rybakina two years ago after confirming her maiden debut at the year-end championship featuring the top eight female stars of the WTA Tour. Since 2023, the Kazakh tennis sensation and former World No.3 has been a consistent presence at the event. This season, her qualification chances initially looked uncertain — but once again, Rybakina has shown that she thrives under pressure. At the Japan Open this week, she has done it not once, but three times, while closing the door on her close competitor, Mirra Andreeva.

Rybakina carried her momentum from the Ningbo title into Tokyo, determined to make a deep run. She needed to win her first two matches at the Toray Pan Pacific Open to confirm her WTA Finals spot — and

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