Elena Rybakina’s retreat sent 20-year-old Linda Noskova into the Toray Pan Pacific Open final on Sunday. She will face Belinda Bencic who battled back to beat Sofia Kenin 7-6(5) 3-6 6-2.
Bencic, bidding for her 10th career title on Sunday, returns to the Tokyo final ten years after she was runner-up at the event in 2015.
It’s been a solid campaign for the Swiss, who started the season at 421 and was just beginning her return from maternity leave.
Noskova will compete for her second career title in her third final of 2025 (also Prague and Beijing).
Noskova and Bencic have never played in the tournament before.
