Naomi Osaka was eliminated from the Pan Pacific Open after dropping a 6-3 7-5 match to Slovakian wildcard Mia Pohankova. The defeat ended a mixed campaign for the 29-year-old former champion, who had opened her run in Tokyo with a straight-sets win against Jasmine Paolini. Pohankova, who celebrated her 18th birthday this month, stated she was proud of her play during her first encounter against such a challenging opponent. She now advances to the quarter-finals for a matchup with Alycia Parks.
Key points
Naomi Osaka finished a mixed 2026 season amid personal doubts regarding how much longer s…: Naomi Osaka finished a mixed 2026 season amid personal doubts regarding how much longer she will continue playing.
The former world number one was unable to capitalize on her home-court advantage as the t…: The former world number one was unable to capitalize on her home-court advantage as the tournament's seventh seed.
Mia Pohankova successfully earned a signature upset in the first match she played against…: Mia Pohankova successfully earned a signature upset in the first match she played against an opponent of Osaka's caliber.
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(adds dropped number 18 in first bullet point)
TOKYO, Oct 29 : Former world number one Naomi Osaka suffered a 6-3 7-5 defeat by Slovakian teenager Mia Pohankova in the Pan Pacific Open second round on Thursday.
• Wildcard Pohankova, who turned 18 this month, advanced to the quarter-finals after upsetting the Japanese former champion and seventh seed in front of Osaka's home fans
• "I am really proud of myself," Pohankova said. "It is the first time I have played against such a hard player and I feel really, really good"
• Osaka, 29, had opened her campaign with a straight-sets victory over Jasmine Paolini but could not build on that performance as her 2026 season came to an end
• The defeat capped a mixed season for the four-times Grand Slam champion, who has struggled for consistency and last week said she had contemplated retirement and often wondered how long she would continue playing
• Pohankova faces American Alycia Parks in the last eight
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