Rybakina pulls out of Tokyo quarter-finals due to neck injury

Rybakina's withdrawal on Friday marks a setback for the top-seeded player at the Tokyo tournament. The Kazakhstan champion cited a neck injury as the reason for her exit from the competition.

Fernandez will advance to the last four without needing to take to the court, benefiting from her opponent's inability to continue. The Canadian player now awaits the winner of the remaining quarter-final matches.

Rybakina's participation in the Pan Pacific Open has ended prematurely, raising questions about her fitness heading into the final stretch of the professional tennis calendar. The injury comes at a critical point in the season as players prepare for the year's remaining major tournaments.

The withdrawal underscores the physical demands placed on top-ranked players throughout the tennis season. Rybakina will now likely focus on recovery to ensure her fitness for upcoming competitions.