Leylah Fernandez Exits Pan Pacific Open After Defeat to Rybakina

URGENT UPDATE: Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has been eliminated from the Toray Pan Pacific Open after a decisive second-round defeat to second-seeded Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan. This match, held in Tokyo on October 22, 2025, ended with a score of 6-4, 6-3, marking a significant setback for the 23-year-old Canadian.

In a match that lasted just one hour and 28 minutes, Rybakina displayed her dominance, never trailing on the scoreboard and managing to break Fernandez’s serve only once. This victory propels Rybakina into the quarterfinals, where she will face fellow Canadian Victoria Mboko, who recently triumphed over Rybakina in the semifinals of the National Bank Open in Montreal.

Fernandez, hailing from Laval, Quebec, had entered this tournament with momentum after winning the Japan Open in Osaka just days earlier, securing her fifth career singles title. Fans were hopeful for a strong performance following her recent success.

The loss is particularly disappointing as Fernandez aimed to build on her recent achievements in front of an international audience. Meanwhile, Mboko, a promising 19-year-old from Toronto, continues to make waves in the tennis world, recently making headlines by winning the Montreal tournament as a wild-card entry.

In a parallel match, Bianca Andreescu and Mboko faced a tough battle in the women’s doubles quarterfinals, ultimately falling to the duo of Christina Bucsa and Shuko Aoyama in a marathon match that ended 6-4, 7-6 (3), 10-8.

The unexpected early exit of Fernandez raises questions about her future performance on the circuit as she navigates the pressures of international competition. Tennis fans are urged to keep an eye on the upcoming matches, especially Mboko’s clash with Rybakina, which promises to be an exciting showdown.

Stay tuned for further updates as the tournament progresses and more Canadian athletes take to the courts.