Mia Pohankova stuns Naomi Osaka at Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo
Synopsis
Ranked World No. 144 and playing her first WTA 500 main draw, Slovak teenager Mia Pohankova dismantled 2019 champion Naomi Osaka 6-3, 7-5 in Tokyo — one of the most eye-catching upsets of the WTA season. A year ago she was ranked No. 659; now she is a quarterfinalst in a WTA 500 and one of the sport's most exciting prospects.
Key Takeaways
Mia Pohankova (World No.
144 ) defeated Naomi Osaka 6-3, 7-5 at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on 29 October 2026 .
The win is Pohankova's biggest of her career and her first main-draw result at a WTA 500-level tournament.
Pohankova was ranked No.
659 a year ago; she is now in her fourth tour-level quarterfinal .
Naomi Osaka , a three-time finalist and 2019 champion in Tokyo, was playing there for the first time since 2022 .
Pohankova next faces American Alycia Parks in the quarterfinals.
Mia Pohankova, ranked World No. 144, pulled off the biggest upset of her young career on Thursday at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, defeating former champion Naomi Osaka 6-3, 7-5 in one hour and 35 minutes to advance to the quarterfinals. The Slovak teen's victory over the 2019 Tokyo champion marks her first main-draw appearance at a WTA 500-level tournament — and she has made it count.
A Win That Rewrites Her Career Arc
Pohankova's rise has been one of the more striking stories on the women's tour this season. Just twelve months ago, she was ranked No. 659 in the world. Since then, she claimed an ITF W75 title early in the season, reached the final of an ITF W100 event in April, and last year became the Wimbledon junior singles champion. The quarterfinal in Tokyo is the fourth tour-level last-eight appearance of her career.
How the Match Unfolded
Pohankova took the opening set with relative authority, but the second was a tighter contest. She described the critical phase after the match: 'She played very well, but I won the first set. In the second set, I was just saying she needs to do something better, and I'm just trying to focus on every point. There was like no break in the second set. And it's really tough against her, but on the last point, I said, oh, it's a chance, and when she put the forehand out, it's a good feeling, a very good feeling.'
On her belief in herself during the contest, Pohankova was direct: 'I believe (in myself) all the time, and yes, it's a really good match against her. She's a really good player, and I'm just proud of myself. I'm really happy, and I hope it's just the start of my career.'
Osaka's Tokyo Return Ends Early
Naomi Osaka was playing in Tokyo for the first time since 2022. A three-time finalist at the Pan Pacific Open, Osaka won the title here in 2019 and carried significant home-crowd support into the match. Her early exit underscores the unpredictability of her current form as she continues to work her way back into the upper echelons of the tour.
What's Next: Parks Awaits in the Quarterfinal
Pohankova's next opponent is American Alycia Parks, whom she faces in the quarterfinals. Her recent form heading into this tournament was equally promising — she reached the semifinals of two consecutive WTA 125-level tournaments in September and recorded two wins at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open. Notably, this is her first outing at the WTA 500 level, making her run all the more remarkable and one of the most compelling sub-plots of the Tokyo draw.
Point of View
Lower-ranked players cracking elite WTA draws as former top-10 names like Osaka navigate inconsistent returns from extended breaks. The Slovak's trajectory from No. 659 to WTA 500 quarterfinalist in under twelve months is exceptional, but the real question is sustainability: can she convert this momentum into a consistent top-100 ranking, or will this remain a headline moment? For Osaka, the early exit in her Tokyo homecoming raises fresh questions about where she stands in the competitive pecking order — not as a narrative, but as a seeding and scheduling reality going into the season's final stretch.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mia Pohankova and why is this win significant?
Mia Pohankova is a Slovak tennis player and last year's Wimbledon junior singles champion. Her 6-3, 7-5 win over Naomi Osaka at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo is the biggest victory of her career, coming in her first ever main-draw appearance at a WTA 500-level tournament.
What was Naomi Osaka's record in Tokyo before this match?
Naomi Osaka had been a three-time finalist at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, winning the title in 2019. Thursday's loss was her first match in Tokyo since 2022.
Who does Mia Pohankova face in the quarterfinals?
Pohankova will face American Alycia Parks in the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. It is her fourth tour-level quarterfinal appearance overall.
How has Pohankova's ranking changed over the past year?
Pohankova was ranked World No. 659 at this time last year. She has risen to World No. 144 following a run of strong results, including an ITF W75 title, a WTA 125 semifinal run, and wins at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open.
What is the Toray Pan Pacific Open?
The Toray Pan Pacific Open is a WTA 500-level tennis tournament held in Tokyo, Japan. It is one of the top women's events on the Asian swing of the WTA calendar and has historically attracted major names including Osaka, who won the title there in 2019.
