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Elena Rybakina’s hopes of ending 12-year-long WTA drought have just decreased with her latest decision

World number one Elena Rybakina is attempting to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2014 to successfully defend her WTA Finals title. Despite holding a significant ranking lead over Aryna Sabalenka following a stellar 2026 campaign that included victories at the Australian Open and US Open, Rybakina faces a tight schedule that could hinder her performance.

By committing to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, the Kazakh star leaves herself only six days of recovery before the season-ending tournament begins on November 8. While she enters the Tokyo event as the only top-ten player in the field following several high-profile withdrawals, the physical toll of her current workload remains a concern for her title defense prospects.

Rybakina previously competed at this venue in 2022, where she suffered an early exit in her opening match.

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