The quarterfinal match of the 2025 Toray Pan Pacific Open on Thursday night has extra meaning for Elena Rybakina. If she wins, she is into the 2025 WTA Finals slated to begin November 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
One step closer 👀
Elena Rybakina beats Fernandez 6-4, 6-3 in Tokyo 👏#TorayPPO pic.twitter.com/VkC0mejHOT
— wta (@WTA) October 23, 2025
Rybakina has had to work hard to get there. She defeated Leylah Fernandez in straight sets on Wednesday night, but the hard work continues with a rematch against Victoria Mboko who defeated her in the semifinals at the Canadian Open. It was a physically tough match against Mboko in Montreal. Buoyed by her home crowd, Mboko mounted a come from behind win after Rybakina won the first set 6-1.
The final two sets were tight and went Mboko’s way by the score of 7-5 and 7-6 (7-4).
Victoria Mboko and Elena Rybakina meet tonight for the first time since their EPIC battle in Montreal 🫢
Stream it TONIGHT at 10:30pm ET on our App 📲 pic.twitter.com/eTRb2sWWyc
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 23, 2025
Rybakina did defeat Mboko in their only meeting prior to that in straight sets 6-3, 7-5 in the Round of 16 at the Mubadala Citi Open.
So far, Rybakina has marched through her matches looking strong and healthy; hopefully she possesses strength and fitness against Mboko who has been playing in her Canadian Open form.
If Rybakina loses, Mirra Andreeva will qualify for the last spot in this year’s WTA Finals. It would be the first appearance for Andreeva who has also qualified for WTA Finals doubles with partner Diana Shnaider.
We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves because Rybakina needs to win first. However, we do wonder if she might withdraw from the tournament at that point. Playing potentially two additional matches when the other seven women are resting and training could put her at a disadvantage and risk injury.
The flip side is that Rybakina is the most recently match tested and prepared as compared to the others.
It is hard to know what is the best or most advantageous position. It could be a moot point if Mboko flashes her Canadian Open form in Japan.
Rybakina vs. Mboko will be televised at approximately 10:30 PM EDT on Thursday night on the Tennis Channel.
