Rybakina books place in WTA Finals with win over Mboko in Tokyo

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS FROM DAY FIVE OF THE PAN PACIFIC OPEN  RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT AND SHOTLIST SHOWS: TOKYO, JAPAN (OCTOBER 24, 2025) (WTA/DAZN – See restrictions) ELENA RYBAKINA (BROWN AND WHITE KIT) V VICTORIA MBOKO (ORANGE KIT) FIRST SET 1. RYBAKINA PREPARES TO SERVE 2. RYBAKINA HITS FOREHAND WINNER TO BREAK AND TAKE 3-0 LEAD 3. RYBAKINA REACTS 4. MBOKO HITS FOREHAND WINNER 5. RYBAKINA HITS FOREHAND WINNER 6. RYBAKINA PREPARES TO SERVE 7. MBOKO HITS BACKHAND WIDE, RYBAKINA TAKES FIRST SET 8. RYBAKINA REACTS 9. RYBAKINA'S COACH STEFANO VUKOV REACTS SECOND SET 10. RYBAKINA PREPARES TO SERVE 11. RYBAKINA HITS BACKHAND WINNER 12. RYBAKINA CELEBRATES 13. RYBAKINA HITS VOLLEY 14. RYBAKINA REACTS 15. MBOKO NETS BACKHAND, RYBAKINA TAKES SECOND SET AND WINS MATCH 16. RYBAKINA REACTS 17. VUKOV REACTS 18. PLAYERS MEET AT NET/SHAKE HANDS WITH UMPIRE 19. RYBAKINA CELEBRATES LINDA NOSKOVA (WHITE AND ORANGE KIT) V ANNA KALINSKAYA (MAROON AND BLUE KIT) FIRST SET 20. KALINSKAYA HITS FOREHAND WIDE, NOSKOVA TAKES FIRST SET 21. NOSKOVA REACTS 22. KALINSKAYA WALKS ACROSS COURT SECOND SET 23. NOSKOVA HITS ACE 24. NOSKOVA REACTS 25. NOSKOVA HITS FOREHAND WINNER 26. NOSKOVA AND KALINSKAYA WALK ACROSS COURT 27. NOSKOVA AND KALINSKAYA SHAKE HANDS ON SIDELINES AFTER KALINSKAYA RETIRES 28. KALINSKAYA PACKS UP GEAR STORY: Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina secured the last qualifying spot for the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh after advancing to the Pan Pacific Open semi-finals in Tokyo on Friday (October 24). Rybakina, who has won two WTA 500 titles this season, beat Canada's Victoria Mboko 6-3 7-6(4) in the Tokyo quarters. The 26-year-old will be making her third consecutive appearance at the Riyadh showpiece, which runs from November 1-8. Russians Mirra Andreeva, 18, and Ekaterina Alexandrova, 30, were named as the first and second alternates. Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina joins world number one Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, defending champion Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys and Jasmine Paolini in the draw. Rybakina, who will rise one spot to world number six when the latest rankings are released, faces Czech Linda Noskova in the Toyko semi-finals on Saturday (October 25). Noskova progressed to the final four after her Russian opponent Anna Kalinskaya retired injured while trailing 6-1 1-0. (Production: Aadi Nair)

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