Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Draw Preview: Rybakina Leads, Osaka Faces Paolini
The Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 is set for an exciting week of tennis in Tokyo, with World No. 1 Elena Rybakina, defending champion Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka, and rising star Alexandra Eala among the players competing for the WTA 500 title.
The tournament takes place from October 26 to November 1 at the Ariake Coliseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park in Tokyo, Japan. It features a 28-player singles draw and 16 doubles teams competing on outdoor hard courts.
The singles draw has already produced several interesting matchups, including a first-round meeting between former champion Naomi Osaka and Jasmine Paolini. Meanwhile, top seed Rybakina will begin her campaign in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
The doubles competition also promises plenty of action, with Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani leading the field as the No. 1 seeds.
Here is a closer look at the 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open singles and doubles draws, including seeded players, key matchups, potential quarterfinals, wildcards, and defending champions.
- Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Tournament Overview
- Singles Draw Preview: Rybakina Headlines the Top Half
- Bottom Half: Chwalińska, Shnaider, Eala and Osaka
- Naomi Osaka Faces Jasmine Paolini in a Blockbuster Opener
- Alexandra Eala Looks for Another Strong Performance
- Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Singles Seeds
- Potential Singles Quarterfinal Matchups
- Singles Wildcards and Withdrawals
- Doubles Draw Preview: Dabrowski and Stefani Lead the Field
- Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Doubles Seeds
- Doubles First-Round Matches
- Defending Champions: Who Is Returning in 2026?
- Key Matches to Watch
- When Does the 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open Start?
- Final Thoughts
Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Tournament Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis |
| Category | WTA 500 |
| Dates | October 26 – November 1, 2026 |
| Location | Tokyo, Japan |
| Venue | Ariake Coliseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park |
| Surface | Outdoor hard (DecoTurf) |
| Singles Draw | 28 players |
| Doubles Draw | 16 teams |
| Total Prize Money | $1,206,446 |
| Singles Champion Points | 500 |
| Doubles Champion Points | 500 |
| Defending Singles Champion | Belinda Bencic |
| Defending Doubles Champions | Tímea Babos / Luisa Stefani |
The Pan Pacific Open is one of the longest-running tournaments on the women’s professional tennis calendar, having first been held in 1973.
This year’s event is also the final WTA 500 tournament of the 2026 season, giving players another opportunity to collect ranking points before the season comes to an end.
Singles Draw Preview: Rybakina Headlines the Top Half
Elena Rybakina enters Tokyo as the top seed and the highest-ranked player in the singles draw.
The Kazakh star receives a first-round bye and will face either former World No. 3 Maria Sakkari or a qualifier in her opening match.
Rybakina reached the semifinals in Tokyo last year but withdrew before playing her semifinal match because of back pain. She will now look to make another deep run at a tournament where she already has experience.
Her projected quarterfinal opponent is fifth seed Elise Mertens, although the Belgian could face a difficult path to that stage.
Mertens begins against Japanese wildcard Moyuka Uchijima, while Leylah Fernandez and another Japanese wildcard, Himeno Sakatsume, meet in the same section.
A potential Rybakina-Mertens quarterfinal would bring together two experienced players with different strengths.
Bencic Returns to Defend Her Tokyo Title
Fourth seed Belinda Bencic returns as the defending champion after winning the 2025 edition.
The Swiss player defeated Linda Nosková 6–2, 6–3 in last year’s final to claim her 10th WTA singles title.
Bencic receives a first-round bye and will begin her title defense against either Ann Li or Ekaterina Alexandrova.
It will not be an easy opening match, particularly if Alexandrova advances. The Russian has the power and aggressive baseline game to challenge opponents on hard courts.
Sixth seed Sorana Cîrstea is another possible opponent for Bencic in the quarterfinals.
Cîrstea opens against a qualifier, with Diane Parry and Cristina Bucșa also in her section.
If the seeds hold, Rybakina and Bencic could meet in the semifinals.
That would be one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament, although both players must first navigate competitive sections of the draw.
Bottom Half: Chwalińska, Shnaider, Eala and Osaka
The bottom half features several interesting contenders, including second seed Maja Chwalińska, third seed Diana Shnaider, seventh seed Naomi Osaka, and eighth seed Alexandra Eala.
Chwalińska arrives in Tokyo following a major breakthrough at the Wuhan Open, where she captured a WTA 1000 title.
The Polish player receives a first-round bye and will open against either Wang Xinyu or a qualifier.
However, one of her biggest challenges could come in the quarterfinals.
Naomi Osaka Faces Jasmine Paolini in a Blockbuster Opener
One of the standout matches in the first round is Naomi Osaka (7) vs. Jasmine Paolini.
Osaka, the 2019 Pan Pacific Open champion, will have the opportunity to compete in front of her home fans again.
The Japanese star previously reached the Tokyo final in 2016 and 2018 before finally winning the championship in 2019.
Paolini, meanwhile, is an experienced Top 20-level competitor who has enjoyed significant success in both singles and doubles.
Both players have the ability to make deep runs, but only one can advance beyond the opening round.
The winner will face either a qualifier or Slovakian wildcard Mia Pohánková in the second round.
A potential quarterfinal meeting with Chwalińska could follow.
For Osaka, another Tokyo title would be especially meaningful, but her difficult opening match means she must be ready from the beginning.
Alexandra Eala Looks for Another Strong Performance
Eighth seed Alexandra Eala is another player to watch in Tokyo.
The Filipina has been drawn against British wildcard Mika Stojsavljevic in the opening round.
If Eala advances, she will face either Australian Talia Gibson or a qualifier.
Her projected quarterfinal opponent is third seed Diana Shnaider, who receives a first-round bye.
Shnaider will begin against the winner of the match between Czech player Nikola Bartůňková and a qualifier.
A potential Eala-Shnaider quarterfinal would be an exciting matchup between two young players looking to establish themselves among the leading names on the WTA Tour.
Eala also appears in the doubles draw, partnering American Desirae Krawczyk.
Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Singles Seeds
Eight players are seeded in the main draw, with the top four receiving byes into the second round.
| Seed | Player | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elena Rybakina | Kazakhstan |
| 2 | Maja Chwalińska | Poland |
| 3 | Diana Shnaider | — |
| 4 | Belinda Bencic | Switzerland |
| 5 | Elise Mertens | Belgium |
| 6 | Sorana Cîrstea | Romania |
| 7 | Naomi Osaka | Japan |
| 8 | Alexandra Eala | Philippines |
Rybakina leads the field as World No. 1, while Chwalińska enters as the second seed following her impressive results during the Asian swing.
Bencic, Osaka, and Eala are among the players who could challenge the leading seeds.
Potential Singles Quarterfinal Matchups
Based on the positions of the seeded players, these are the projected quarterfinals:
| Quarterfinal | Potential Matchup |
|---|---|
| QF 1 | Elena Rybakina (1) vs. Elise Mertens (5) |
| QF 2 | Belinda Bencic (4) vs. Sorana Cîrstea (6) |
| QF 3 | Alexandra Eala (8) vs. Diana Shnaider (3) |
| QF 4 | Naomi Osaka (7) vs. Maja Chwalińska (2) |
These are projected matches, not confirmed fixtures. All players must win their earlier matches to reach the quarterfinals.
Jasmine Paolini, Leylah Fernandez, Ekaterina Alexandrova, and other unseeded players could also disrupt the expected matchups.
Singles Wildcards and Withdrawals
Four players received wildcards into the singles main draw:
- Moyuka Uchijima (Japan): Faces fifth seed Elise Mertens.
- Himeno Sakatsume (Japan): Opens against Leylah Fernandez.
- Mika Stojsavljevic (Great Britain): Faces eighth seed Alexandra Eala.
- Mia Pohánková (Slovakia): Opens against a qualifier, with Osaka or Paolini waiting in the second round.
Uchijima and Sakatsume give Japanese fans two additional home players to support alongside Osaka.
Stojsavljevic and Pohánková are promising young players who have already achieved success at the junior level.
Notable Withdrawals
The original Tokyo entry list included several major names who are not part of the final singles draw.
Notable withdrawals include:
- Iga Świątek
- Jessica Pegula
- Elina Svitolina
- Marta Kostyuk
- Iva Jovic
- Anna Kalinskaya
Their absences have changed the strength and structure of the draw, creating opportunities for other players.
Despite these withdrawals, Tokyo still features an interesting mix of established champions, experienced tour players, and emerging talents.
Doubles Draw Preview: Dabrowski and Stefani Lead the Field
The Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 doubles draw features 16 teams, including four seeded pairs and several notable singles stars.
Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Luisa Stefani of Brazil are the top seeds.
They open against Cristina Bucșa and Leylah Fernandez, a potentially challenging first-round matchup.
Stefani is also one of the defending doubles champions. She won the 2025 Tokyo title alongside Tímea Babos, defeating Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunić 6–1, 6–4 in the final.
With Babos not partnering her this year, Stefani will attempt to retain the title alongside Dabrowski.
Their section also includes Alexandra Eala and Desirae Krawczyk, who face Chan Hao-ching and Japanese player Miyu Kato in the opening round.
If Dabrowski and Stefani advance, they could meet either Eala/Krawczyk or Chan/Kato in the quarterfinals.
Perez and Schuurs Lead the Second Quarter
Fourth seeds Ellen Perez and Demi Schuurs face Chinese pair Tang Qianhui and Xu Yifan in their opening match.
The Australian-Dutch partnership brings considerable doubles experience to the tournament.
Their potential quarterfinal opponents are Storm Hunter and Maya Joint or Japanese wildcards Momoko Kobori and Ayano Shimizu.
Hunter and Joint will be an interesting Australian combination to follow, while Kobori and Shimizu have the advantage of playing in front of home supporters.
If the seeds advance, Perez and Schuurs could meet Dabrowski and Stefani in the semifinals.
Routliffe and Sutjiadi Target a Deep Run
Third seeds Erin Routliffe of New Zealand and Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia are another strong partnership in the doubles field.
They open against Tereza Mihalíková and Olivia Nicholls.
Routliffe and Sutjiadi are positioned in the lower half of the draw, where they could face several dangerous teams.
Their potential quarterfinal opponents are Shuko Aoyama and Liang En-shuo or Ingrid Neel and Giuliana Olmos.
For Indonesian tennis fans, Sutjiadi’s participation gives the tournament additional interest.
A strong run in Tokyo would provide another opportunity for her to compete against established doubles specialists and collect valuable ranking points.
Errani and Paolini Face Second Seeds in First Round
One of the biggest matches in the doubles opening round features Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini against second seeds Anna Danilina and Jiang Xinyu.
Errani and Paolini are one of the most recognizable Italian partnerships in women’s doubles.
Despite being unseeded in Tokyo, their experience and achievements make them dangerous opponents.
Danilina, meanwhile, was a finalist in the 2025 Pan Pacific Open doubles tournament alongside Aleksandra Krunić.
She returns with a different partner, Jiang Xinyu, hoping to go one step further this year.
The winner will face either Ulrikke Eikeri and Quinn Gleason or Asia Muhammad and Zhang Shuai in the quarterfinals.
With several accomplished doubles players in this section, the bottom quarter could produce some of the tournament’s most competitive matches.
Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 Doubles Seeds
| Seed | Team | Countries |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gabriela Dabrowski / Luisa Stefani | Canada / Brazil |
| 2 | Anna Danilina / Jiang Xinyu | Kazakhstan / China |
| 3 | Erin Routliffe / Aldila Sutjiadi | New Zealand / Indonesia |
| 4 | Ellen Perez / Demi Schuurs | Australia / Netherlands |
Unlike the singles tournament, all 16 doubles teams must play in the opening round. No team receives a first-round bye.
Doubles First-Round Matches
Here is the complete first-round lineup from the official draw released on October 24.
| Match | Teams |
|---|---|
| 1 | Dabrowski / Stefani (1) vs. Bucșa / Fernandez |
| 2 | Eala / Krawczyk vs. Chan / Kato |
| 3 | Perez / Schuurs (4) vs. Tang / Xu |
| 4 | Hunter / Joint vs. Kobori / Shimizu (WC) |
| 5 | Aoyama / Liang vs. Neel / Olmos |
| 6 | Mihalíková / Nicholls vs. Routliffe / Sutjiadi (3) |
| 7 | Eikeri / Gleason vs. Muhammad / Zhang |
| 8 | Errani / Paolini vs. Danilina / Jiang (2) |
All four seeded teams are positioned in separate quarters of the draw.
If the rankings and seedings hold, the projected semifinals would be Dabrowski/Stefani against Perez/Schuurs in the top half, and Routliffe/Sutjiadi against Danilina/Jiang in the bottom half.
However, pairs such as Errani/Paolini, Eala/Krawczyk, and Muhammad/Zhang could challenge those expectations.
Defending Champions: Who Is Returning in 2026?
Both the defending singles and doubles champions have representation in this year’s draw.
Singles: Belinda Bencic
Bencic is back to defend the title she won in 2025.
She defeated Linda Nosková in straight sets in last year’s final and enters the 2026 edition as the fourth seed.
Doubles: Tímea Babos and Luisa Stefani
Babos and Stefani won the 2025 doubles title by defeating Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunić.
They are not defending the championship together.
Stefani returns to Tokyo as the top seed alongside Gabriela Dabrowski, while Babos is absent from the 2026 doubles draw.
Last year’s runner-up Danilina is also back, this time partnering Jiang Xinyu.
Key Matches to Watch
Several matches stand out from the first-round draws:
Naomi Osaka vs. Jasmine Paolini (Singles)
The biggest opening-round attraction features the 2019 Tokyo champion against one of Italy’s leading players.
Alexandra Eala vs. Mika Stojsavljevic (Singles)
A meeting between two talented young players, with the eighth seed looking to avoid an early upset.
Ann Li vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova (Singles)
The winner earns a second-round meeting with defending champion Belinda Bencic.
Dabrowski / Stefani vs. Bucșa / Fernandez (Doubles)
The top seeds will face a dangerous combination in their opening match.
Errani / Paolini vs. Danilina / Jiang (Doubles)
An intriguing meeting featuring experienced doubles players and last year’s finalist Danilina.
Routliffe / Sutjiadi vs. Mihalíková / Nicholls (Doubles)
The third seeds will try to begin their Tokyo campaign with a victory against a competitive European partnership.
When Does the 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open Start?
The main draw begins on Monday, October 26, 2026, with first-round singles and doubles matches.
Here is the provisional schedule:
| Date | Round |
|---|---|
| October 24–25 | Singles Qualifying |
| October 26–27 | Singles and Doubles First Round |
| October 28 | Singles Second Round / Doubles First Round |
| October 29 | Singles Second Round / Doubles Quarterfinals |
| October 30 | Singles and Doubles Quarterfinals |
| October 31 | Singles and Doubles Semifinals |
| November 1 | Singles and Doubles Finals |
The singles final is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. Japan Standard Time (JST) on Sunday, November 1, followed by the doubles final.
Match times and the order of play may change depending on weather conditions and tournament requirements.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open promises another competitive edition, with Elena Rybakina leading the singles field and Belinda Bencic hoping to defend her title.
Naomi Osaka’s opening-round match against Jasmine Paolini is one of the biggest attractions, while Maja Chwalińska, Diana Shnaider, and Alexandra Eala could also make strong challenges.
The doubles competition is equally interesting. Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani are the top seeds, but the field includes several experienced partnerships capable of competing for the championship.
With valuable WTA ranking points and more than $1.2 million in total prize money available, Tokyo provides one final WTA 500 opportunity for players to finish the season strongly.
The 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open begins October 26, with both singles and doubles champions set to be crowned on November 1.
Official Tournament Resources
- Toray Pan Pacific Open Official Website
- Toray Pan Pacific Open 2026 – WTA
- Official Match Schedule and Results
Draw information is based on the official singles and doubles main draws released on October 24, 2026. Qualifying positions, withdrawals, and the order of play are subject to change.
