In a thrilling conclusion to the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open, Belinda Bencic, seeded fifth, showcased her remarkable form by defeating sixth seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic with a score of 6-2, 6-3. This triumph is particularly significant for Bencic, coming ten years after her heart-wrenching loss in the final to Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska in 2013.
Following the match, Bencic expressed her joy, saying, “Playing in front of such an enthusiastic crowd was wonderful. The last time I won in Tokyo, it was during the Olympics with an empty stadium due to the pandemic. Experiencing this vibrant atmosphere today was a completely different yet amazing experience. I cherish my time in Japan, and I am thrilled to have finally claimed this title.”
This accomplishment marks Bencic’s tenth WTA title and her second victory of the year, following her win in Abu Dhabi earlier in the season. After taking time off for maternity leave in 2023, she dramatically fell out of the top 1,000 in the rankings, but her return to form has been impressive.
Reflecting on her connection to Tokyo, Bencic stated, “Tokyo feels like a special place in my career where I’ve experienced great successes, including my gold medal win at the Olympics. I felt a sense of déjà vu on the court today. It brought back memories of my past achievements.”
Noskova, meanwhile, had reached the final with relative ease, spending just 35 minutes on court during her quarter-final and semi-final rounds due to an opponent’s retirement and walkover. In stark contrast, Bencic fought through her semi-final against Sofia Kenin and came from behind to defeat Karolina Muchova in the quarter-finals in a grueling match that lasted over three hours.
However, Bencic displayed no signs of fatigue as she efficiently dispatched Noskova in just over an hour, avenging her previous loss in this tournament a decade ago. “It was a pleasure to compete here,” Bencic reiterated. “Winning this tournament again feels incredible.”
Despite struggling throughout the match, the 20-year-old Noskova remained gracious in defeat. “Today wasn’t my day, but I want to congratulate Belinda on her fantastic performance this week,” she said during the trophy presentation. “It’s inspiring to see someone return to the top after taking a break. I believe you’ll be a role model for many.”
Bencic’s victory propelled her back into the spotlight, moving her up to No. 11 in the WTA rankings, marking her ascent towards the coveted top 10. In her road to the final in Tokyo, Bencic began with a first-round bye, followed by a straightforward win against qualifier Varvara Gracheva.
The final’s statistics illuminate Bencic’s strategic gameplay; she successfully saved all 10 break points and displayed an impressive serving performance with 68% first serves in, winning almost 79% of those points. Although Noskova was able to hit 28 winners, her high number of unforced errors—37 in total—ultimately hindered her chances.
As we look to the future, Noskova’s career continues to progress, as she finishes 2025 with a career-high ranking of No. 13 globally, surpassing compatriots Karolina Muchova, Barbora Krejcikova, and Marketa Vondrousova in the Czech standings.
Meanwhile, in the doubles final, the Hungarian-Brazilian duo of Timea Babos and Luisa Stefani, seeded fourth, claimed victory over third seeds Anna Danilina and Alexsandra Krunic with a score of 6-1, 6-4, adding another title to their impressive 2025 season. This win marks Babos’s 29th WTA title, inching her closer to the milestone of 30.
In conclusion, the 2025 Toray Pan Pacific Open provided thrilling tennis action, with Bencic’s powerful win and prospects for fresh talent like Noskova stirring excitement for upcoming tournaments on the WTA calendar.
