Sports

Pohankova Upsets Osaka to Reach Tokyo Quarterfinals

By WTA Staff

Slovak teenager Mia Pohankova recorded the biggest win of her career on Thursday by defeating former champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The world No. 144, who is ranked a career‑high, overcame a 2‑0 deficit to take the first set 6‑3. In the second set she saved break points in two service games before breaking Osaka in the 12th game, sealing a 6‑3, 7‑5 victory in 1 hour, 35 minutes. The win places Pohankova in the quarterfinals in her first main‑draw appearance at a WTA 500 event and matches her best result on the WTA Tour. She will face American Alycia Parks next. "I believe in myself all the time, and yes, it was a really good match against her," Pohankova said after the win. "She's a really good player, and I'm just proud of myself. I'm really happy, and I hope it's just the start of my career." The victory follows a season that saw her rise from No. 659 last year to winning an ITF W75 title early this season, finishing runner‑up at an ITF W100 event in April, and reaching back‑to‑back semifinals at the WTA 125 level in September. For Osaka, a three‑time finalist in Tokyo who was playing the tournament for the first time since 2022, the defeat marks her third consecutive event without a quarterfinal appearance.