Ten players are withdrawing from the WTA Pan Pacific Open

The last WTA 500 event of 2024 will take place in Tokyo at the Pan Pacific Open. Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng and 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu are among the players in the draw. The tournament was also weakened by the withdrawal of ten players. This article names those who chose not to play and then their replacements are named in the draw.

Ten players withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open

Which players have withdrawn?

The withdrawal of local hero and four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka was the biggest blow for the Pan Pacific Open. She is still recovering from a back injury suffered against Coco Gauff at the China Open. Osaka is part of the Japanese team for next month’s Billie Jean King Cup final, but it is unclear whether she will be fit in time.

Jessica Pegula was the top-ranked player to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open. This year’s US Open runner-up has already qualified for the WTA finals and could fear suffering an injury if she plays too much. She also made the late decision not to play in the Korea Open, earlier in the Asian swing.

Emma Navarro became the second American to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open. The US Open semi-finalist was unable to compete at the Ningbo Open due to illness. This ended their hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals, which may have reduced the incentive to compete in Tokyo.

Danielle Collins also decided not to attend the event. Due to illness, she was unable to play during the entire Asian swing. The 2022 Australian Open runner-up attracted attention this week after reversing her decision to retire at the end of the 2024 season.

Teenage prodigy Mirra Andreeva was another high-profile withdrawal from the Pan Pacific Open. She reached the first WTA 500 final of her career at the Ningbo Open this week and will understandably want to rest after those efforts in eastern China.

Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, Donna Vekic, Maria Sakkari, Marta Kostyuk and Elise Mertens were the other players who withdrew.

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Who will replace these players in the draw?

Viktoriya Tomova will hope to use Osaka’s replacement in Tokyo. The Bulgarian won just three games in her crushing loss to Suzan Lamens at the Japan Women’s Open a few days ago and will need to play much better to go far in the Japanese capital.

Xinyu Wang takes part in the draw after Pegula decided to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open. The 23-year-old had an impressive run to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open, ironically beating Pegula and at Wimbledon in July.

Moyuka Uchijima replaces Navarro at the Pan Pacific Open. Uchihima will play in front of her home fans in Tokyo, which often inspires the players. The 23-year-old is a fierce competitor and could pose a challenge to any player in the draw.

Magdalena Frech benefits from Collins’ decision not to take part in the last WTA 500 tournament of the season. 2024 was the best season of the Pole’s career, especially the victory at the Guadalajara Open last month.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto will also appear in Tokyo instead of Andreeva. The Italian suffered a surprise defeat to Aoi Ito at the Japan Women’s Open in Osaka and will be hoping to bounce back strongly from this setback.

Katie Boulter, Veronika Kudermetova, Varvara Gracheva and Ajla Tomljanovic were the other players who took part in the draw. A lucky loser will replace Mertens at the Pan Pacific Open.

Main photo credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports