Tokyo, Oct 25 (NationPress) Elena Rybakina had to withdraw from the Pan Pacific Open semifinal in Tokyo on Saturday due to a back injury, occurring just one day after she secured her spot at the season-ending WTA Finals.

This unexpected withdrawal allowed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic to advance to Sunday’s final, where she will compete against either Sofia Kenin or Belinda Bencic.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion, who had shown impressive performance throughout the tournament, shared her disappointment in an official statement. “I’m very sorry I can’t play today,” expressed the Moscow-born Kazakh. “I have been experiencing back issues this week and cannot compete at 100%. I regret that my fans will miss my presence today, but I look forward to returning next year.”

Rybakina’s withdrawal follows a demanding period on the tour, where she clinched her eighth and final qualifying position for the WTA Finals scheduled for next month in Saudi Arabia. On Friday, she secured her place among the elite eight with a straight-sets victory over Canada’s Victoria Mboko in the Tokyo quarterfinals.

The world number seven has been performing exceptionally well recently, winning the Ningbo Open title in China last week, significantly enhancing her qualification prospects for this prestigious year-end event.

Despite her premature exit in Tokyo, Rybakina’s consistent performances throughout the season, which include deep runs in Grand Slams and WTA events, have solidified her status among the sport’s elite.

Fans are hopeful that her withdrawal is a precautionary measure and that she will recover in time for the WTA Finals, where she is set to join a remarkable lineup featuring stars like Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Jessica Pegula.