Match Reports · November 1, 2026 · 3 min read
Five wins in Tokyo: from qualifying to the quarterfinals
Photo: Wimbledon 2026. Courtesy of Wilson.
Tokyo asked for the long route and Alycia took it. The week at the Toray Pan Pacific Open started in qualifying, two rounds from the main draw, and turned into her best tournament of the season's final stretch: five wins in six matches at the Ariake Colosseum.
The opening round set the tone. A set down against home qualifier Ena Shibahara, Alycia saved the match through two tiebreaks, closing it 2-6 7-6(7) 7-6(5) after 2 hours and 27 minutes. The final qualifying round was the opposite kind of match: 6-1 6-2 over Heather Watson in 69 minutes, and a place in the main draw.
The level held from there. Wang Xinyu was beaten 6-1 7-6(7) in the first round, then Kimberly Birrell 6-3 6-1 in the Round of 16, a result that made it four WTA quarterfinals on the season. The run ended there against Mia Pohankova, the 18 year old Slovak wild card who took the quarterfinal 7-6(3) 6-3 and went on to reach the semifinals.
The reward showed up on Monday morning: Alycia returned to No. 59 in the WTA rankings, back inside the top 60 after climbing thirty places since late August. Next stop: the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open.
