Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini complete WTA Finals doubles line-up after Tokyo semifinal victory

Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini secured a notable victory in the semifinals of the Pan Pacific Open, earning qualification for the WTA Finals for the third consecutive year as a team. The Italians defeated Tereza Mihalikova and Olivia Nicholls 6-4, 6-0, claiming the final available place in the season-ending tournament after a dominant performance in Tokyo.

The semifinal carried additional significance, as both partnerships were competing for the last spot in the WTA Finals doubles draw. Errani and Paolini arrived in Japan under pressure, knowing that a deep run was necessary to improve their chances of qualification and secure another appearance among the eight leading teams of the season.

The Italians finished ninth in the 2026 WTA Doubles Race, but the withdrawal of Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic, who had occupied third place, opened an additional spot in the field. The Kazakh-Serbian partnership had qualified for the tournament but could no longer compete after Krunic suffered a knee injury during the US Open.

Errani and Paolini therefore took advantage of the opportunity, completing the line-up for the WTA Finals. Their qualification marks a third consecutive appearance as a team, following another productive season in which they remained competitive at the biggest tournaments on the calendar.

The victory over Mihalikova and Nicholls was the decisive step in the Italians' qualification campaign. After a competitive opening set, Errani and Paolini took complete control of the match, winning six consecutive games to close out the second set 6-0. Their performance secured the final place in the WTA Finals and ensured that they will once again compete together at the season-ending championships.

Their results at WTA 1000 level were particularly important throughout the campaign. The pair reached the final of the Miami Open, while also recording semifinal appearances at Indian Wells, Doha and Wuhan. They will have another opportunity to add to their season's achievements in Tokyo, where they are scheduled to contest Sunday's Pan Pacific Open final.

Both players also bring previous WTA Finals experience from their singles careers. Errani qualified for the singles event in 2013 and 2014, while Paolini competed in 2024 and 2025. Their partnership has now established itself among the leading doubles teams on the tour, with a third consecutive appearance confirming their consistency at the highest level.

Following Krunic's injury, Danilina searched for a new partner to continue competing during the final weeks of the season. However, the third-placed partnership's withdrawal from the WTA Finals created an opening in the field, which ultimately allowed Errani and Paolini to secure their place despite finishing ninth in the Race.

With Errani and Paolini securing the final place, all eight partnerships for the WTA Finals are now accounted for. The field includes several established combinations, with Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani, and Hsieh Su-wei and Jelena Ostapenko among the teams set to compete.

The line-up also features Guo Hanyu and Kristina Mladenovic, Cristina Bucsa and Nicole Melichar-Martinez, Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs, and Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai. Errani and Paolini complete a competitive field that brings together partnerships that have delivered strong results throughout the 2026 season.

Errani and Paolini will return to the WTA Finals with another opportunity to challenge for the season-ending doubles title. Their qualification completes the field after a decisive week in Tokyo, where they delivered when their place in Riyadh was on the line.

The Italian pair, who won the 2025 Roland Garros doubles title, have not enjoyed the same results this season as in previous years. In 2024, they won three titles from four finals, in addition to claiming Olympic gold. Their 2025 campaign brought four titles from five finals, establishing them among the most successful partnerships on the tour. In 2026, however, their best results have been a runner-up finish at the Miami Open and semifinal appearances at the Qatar Open and Indian Wells.

Errani and Paolini also spent several months apart on the doubles circuit. Paolini dealt with an injury and focused much of her attention on singles tournaments, while Errani partnered other players to remain active in doubles competition. They reunited during the Asian swing with the objective of securing their place at the WTA Finals, a goal they have now achieved ahead of the Pan Pacific Open championship match.

In search of their first title of the season, the Italians will face the top-seeded partnership of Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani in Sunday's final. The Canadian-Brazilian duo have already won three WTA 1000 titles together this season, presenting Errani and Paolini with a demanding challenge as they look to end their campaign with silverware.