"Unfortunately, I am still not ready to compete" - Another top name withdraws from Pan Pacific Open

Monday, 26 October 2026 at 11:30

The Pan Pacific Open has been dealt another major blow after the opening day of action has been complete. Risen up to the No.2 seed, Maja Chwalinska was forced to pull out of the event due to a thigh injury.

This comes at a frustrating time for the Pole, who will be desperate to continue her fine form. Following that breakthrough Roland Garros final run, she has managed to find her feet on the WTA Tour, and this recent period in Asia has proven her spot among the elite.

After reaching the semi-finals of the Singapore Open, Chwalinska overcame an early exit at the China Open to taste success in the Wuhan Open. She came back from a set and break deficit against Sonay Kartal to amazingly win a maiden WTA title, which came in the form of a WTA 1000 trophy.

She pulled out of the Ningbo Open directly after following a gruelling week. She was set to re-enter the competition in the Japanese capital, but that decision was wisely averted thanks to an injury problem that she was not in the mood of aggravating.

She unveiled the news on Instagram. "I am very disappointed to have to withdraw from the Tokyo tournament due to a left thigh injury sustained in Wuhan. I travelled to Tokyo early for physiotherapy and on-court practice, doing everything possible to recover in time, but unfortunately, I am still not ready to compete.

"I am very much looking forward to playing in Tokyo someday and am grateful for everyone’s support and understanding."

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Maja Chwalinska (@majachwalinska)

Number of withdrawals rise

Chwalinska is the latest of a long list of names that were supposed to compete in the Pan Pacific Open but have not made the trip to Tokyo. The World No.1 and Ningbo Open champion, Elena Rybakina, is still headlining the field with the likes of Diana Shnaider, Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka and Alexandra Eala all featuring.

However, it is a depleted field. Elina Svitolina, Iga Swiatek and Marta Kostyuk were all listed to feature, but the three top 10 talents have since pulled out, the latter two ending their season with Svitolina primarily focusing on the WTA Finals. Iva Jovic also withdrew and will not attempt to win a third WTA 500 title.

Read also

As for Chwalinska, she will try and recover as quickly as possible. She will look to get back to speed ahead of the Billie Jean King Cup qualifier tie for Poland against Sweden from November 20–21. She will then face Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova at the Ergo Arena as part of the Lotto Tenis Show on December 11.

Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist

Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.

Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.

He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Alexandra Eala disposes of 17-year-old British wildcard to get Pan Pacific Open campaign underway