Key Points
- Highlight the 2025 WTA Ningbo Open experienced five top-20 player withdrawals, including Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, due to injuries and WTA Finals qualification.
- Report several other notable players like Elina Svitolina and Daria Kasatkina withdrew from the season early for mental health and calendar intensity reasons.
- Note the withdrawals opened opportunities for players such as Emma Raducanu and Sofia Kenin to enter the main draw, with the top seeds receiving byes to the Round of 16.
The Asian tennis calendar is in full swing, and fans have barely caught their breath from the drama of the Ningbo Open as attention now shifts to Tokyo for the much-anticipated 2025 Pan Pacific Open. With a flurry of withdrawals from both events, the women’s tour is experiencing a reshuffling of stars, providing fresh opportunities for up-and-coming talent and seasoned players alike. Let’s dive into what’s shaping up to be a compelling fortnight in women’s tennis.
The 2025 WTA Ningbo Open, which began on Monday, October 13, set the tone for a week marked by surprises and high-profile absences. The tournament, usually a magnet for top-tier talent, saw five of the world’s top 20 players withdraw before the first serve. Amanda Anisimova, the world No. 4 and a breakout star in 2025, was slated to be the top seed. After a remarkable season—runner-up finishes at both Wimbledon and the US Open and her maiden WTA 1000 titles in Qatar and Beijing—Anisimova clinched her spot at the year-end WTA Finals. With her place in the prestigious event secured, she pulled out of Ningbo, citing a calf injury, though her WTA Finals qualification likely played a role in her decision to rest.
Jessica Pegula, the 2024 US Open runner-up, followed a similar path. Having just reached the Wuhan Open final—where she fell to Coco Gauff, who broke records in the process—Pegula became the sixth player to qualify for the WTA Finals. Instead of continuing her run in China, she opted to return to the United States for some much-needed recovery time. According to the tournament’s organizers, “Jessica Pegula withdrew after qualifying for the WTA Finals in Riyadh to rest.”
Emma Navarro, another rising American, also withdrew after her hopes for a WTA Finals berth were dashed in Wuhan, where she lost in the round of 16 to Shuai Zhang. While her withdrawal has not been officially explained, it’s widely speculated that her season may be over—a blow to fans who have enjoyed her breakthrough year, highlighted by her Merida Open triumph.
The withdrawals didn’t stop with the Americans. Home favorite Qinwen Zheng, who had only just returned from an elbow injury at the China Open, aggravated the issue in Beijing and subsequently removed herself from the Wuhan and Ningbo entry lists. Ukrainian star Elina Svitolina, last seen at the 2025 US Open, announced she was ending her season early. In a candid statement, Svitolina cited mental health reasons, saying she was “not in the right state of mind to compete.” Her absence is felt deeply, especially as her husband, Gael Monfils, recently revealed that 2026 will be his farewell year on tour.
The defending Ningbo Open champion, Daria Kasatkina, is also missing from the draw. She stepped away from the game temporarily, stating that she was “at a breaking point because of the calendar’s intensity” and needed a much-deserved break. Paula Badosa, plagued by injuries all year, withdrew after retiring during her China Open match against Karolina Muchova. The Spaniard’s fans are hoping for a healthier 2026.
With so many withdrawals, the door swung open for a new wave of competitors. The likes of 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu, 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin, National Bank Open champion Victoria Mboko, Dayana Yastremska, Veronika Kudermetova, Magda Linette, and local favorite Xinyu Wang all stepped in to fill the main draw. Notably, Kenin’s return was short-lived as she was soundly beaten 1-6, 0-6 by McCartney Kessler in the opening round.
Meanwhile, the top four seeds in Ningbo—Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, and Ekaterina Alexandrova—received byes into the Round of 16 and are set to begin their campaigns on Wednesday, October 15. With many heavyweights absent, the field is wide open for a surprise champion to emerge. Who will seize the moment?
As the dust settles in Ningbo, the spotlight shifts to Tokyo for the 40th edition of the Pan Pacific Open, a WTA 500 event that promises plenty of intrigue. The main draw, starting Monday, October 20, features a 28-player singles field, including four wildcards, one protected ranking entrant, six qualifiers, and the remainder based on WTA rankings. The final is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, at the iconic Ariake Coliseum and Ariake Tennis Forest Park.
Jasmine Paolini, currently ranked world No. 8, is set to be the top seed following Pegula’s withdrawal. She’s joined by Elena Rybakina (No. 9), Ekaterina Alexandrova (No. 10), and Clara Tauson (No. 12) as the top four seeds—all of whom receive byes into the second round. The rest of the seeded contingent features Belinda Bencic, Naomi Osaka, Linda Noskova, and Diana Schnaider. Osaka’s return to her home event is generating plenty of buzz, as fans in Tokyo are eager to see the former world No. 1 back in action on Japanese soil.
Wildcards have been awarded to Emma Raducanu and Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima, with Raducanu likely to enter the main draw directly due to the spate of withdrawals. Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon winner, has entered using a protected ranking, adding further star power to the field. Other notable names confirmed for Tokyo include Karolina Muchova, Victoria Mboko, Leylah Fernandez, Sofia Kenin, and Dayana Yastremska. According to tournament officials, “Naomi Osaka will feature in her home event in Tokyo.”
The Pan Pacific Open has not been immune to the withdrawal bug. Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Daria Kasatkina, and Qinwen Zheng have all pulled out, mirroring the pattern seen in Ningbo. With the draw set for Saturday, October 18, fans and players alike are waiting to see how the bracket will shake out. There’s even speculation that Paolini or Rybakina could withdraw if they qualify for the WTA Finals this week, which would further shake up the seedings.
As the Asian swing continues, the women’s tour is witnessing a changing of the guard. The relentless schedule, injuries, and mental health considerations have forced many stars to step away—at least temporarily. Yet, these absences are creating opportunities for others to shine. Emma Raducanu, for example, is looking to capitalize on her wildcard entry and recent form, while the likes of Victoria Mboko and local hope Moyuka Uchijima are eager to make their mark on home soil.
With the main draws in Ningbo and Tokyo featuring an intriguing blend of rising stars, established names, and returning champions, tennis fans are in for a treat. The unpredictability of the fields, combined with the stakes of WTA Finals qualification and the allure of major titles, ensures that every match will be worth watching. As the first balls are struck in Tokyo, all eyes will be on who steps up in the absence of so many top contenders—and whether the next wave of talent can seize the moment.
With the action in Ningbo ongoing and the Pan Pacific Open draw just around the corner, the women’s tour continues to deliver surprises and storylines aplenty. The next ten days promise drama, upsets, and perhaps the emergence of a new champion ready to take center stage in Asian tennis.
