TOKYO — Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open on Saturday, citing back problems, a day after clinching her final remaining spot in the WTA Finals with a win in the quarterfinals.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion was scheduled to face Linda Noskova in the semi-finals of the Tokyo tournament.
“I am very disappointed that I could not play today,” Rybakina said in a statement. “I’ve been having problems with my lower back this week and can’t play 100%.”
Noskova will face Belinda Bencic in Sunday’s final, after the Swiss player defeated Sofia Kenin 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2 in the other semi-final match.
Rybakina defeated Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Friday to book an eighth place spot in next month’s lucrative WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.
At the WTA Finals, scheduled for November 1-8, Rybakina will face top-ranked players Arina Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula and Jasmine Paolini.
Gauff is Riyadh’s defending champion. The American defeated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in last year’s final and won $4.8 million in prize money.