Canada’s Leylah Fernandez advances to Tokyo semis after top-ranked Rybakina withdraws

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez advanced to the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open on Friday after top-ranked Elena Rybakina withdrew from their quarter-final because of an undisclosed injury.

The 24-year-old from Laval, Que., has enjoyed a late-season surge, winning the Singapore Open in September and reaching the Ningbo Open final last Sunday, where she lost to Rybakina 6-2, 6-2.

Fernandez climbed seven spots to No. 23 in the WTA rankings earlier this week following her run in Ningbo.

Rybakina stood on the court in Tokyo and delivered the news to spectators. She said she had been struggling for several days “with a little injury” and needed to be ready for next month’s WTA Finals in Indian Wells.

She ended by saying, “I hope to see you all next year.”

Fernandez will face Kamilla Rakhimova for a spot in the final after Rakhimova defeated Maya Joint 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

Rybakina guaranteed herself the year-end No. 1 ranking with her last-16 victory on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani are also through to the semi-finals in Tokyo.

They will face Australia’s Joint and Storm Hunter for a spot in the doubles final.

In other singles quarter-finals, No. 3-seeded Diana Shnaider recovered to beat No. 8 Alexandra Eala 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4.

Shnaider will next face teenager Mia Pohankova, who beat Alycia Parks 7-6 (3), 6-3. Pohankova of Slovakia turned 18 last week and was a wild-card entry.