Elena Rybakina and Belinda Bencic, both strong contenders for the title, will kick off their campaigns at the 2025 Toray Pan Pacific Open during the Round of 16 on Thursday, October 23. Bencic, the fifth seed from Switzerland, is poised to take on Varvara Gracheva in the WTA 500 tournament at the Ariake Coliseum, while Sofia Kenin, the runner-up from 2024, will also compete in this stage of the event.
Rybakina is the top seed following Jasmine Paolini’s withdrawal, allowing her a favorable position in the draw. On Day 4, four women’s singles matches are on the schedule, with victorious players advancing to the quarterfinals alongside Karolína Muchova, Victoria Mboko, Anna Kalinskaya, and Linda Noskova.
In the spotlight, Belinda Bencic enters the tournament with a solid 2025 record of 33-17, having recently captured the WTA 500 title in Abu Dhabi—her first trophy since April 2023. Bencic has excelled throughout the hardcourt season in Asia, reaching the Round of 16 in both Beijing and Wuhan, as well as the quarterfinals in Ningbo. With her impressive history in Tokyo, including a runner-up finish in 2015, she is favored to win against World No. 82 Gracheva, who secured her place in the Round of 16 after defeating Wang Xinyu in the first round.
On the other side of the draw, Sofia Kenin, the leading American player, aims to recover from a challenging Asian swing that saw her exit early in several tournaments. After a comfortable opening-round victory over Moyuka Uchijima with a score of 6-1, 6-3, Kenin seeks her first WTA title since March 2020. She will face 17-year-old Sonobe Wakana, who is currently ranked 263rd and made it through the first round by defeating Nikola Bartunkova. Kenin’s experience is expected to carry her through what could be a tricky matchup.
Other notable predictions include Elena Rybakina defeating Leylah Fernandez in a closely contested three-set match, as well as Ekaterina Alexandrova expected to best Jaqueline Cristian in straight sets.
As the tournament progresses, the stakes continue to rise, and fans can look forward to a thrilling Day 4 showcasing some of the top talents in women’s tennis.