Edward Marchesi The 2026 Toray Pan Pacific Open , the seventh event of the WTA 500 season , took place from October 26 to November 1 at the imposing Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo. The competition, now in its 49th edition, featured numerous stars of the circuit, but it was the Italian pairing of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini who stole the show in the doubles event.
Semifinal in Tokyo: Errani-Paolini wins resoundingly
In the semifinal round, played on October 31st on the Ariake's center court , the Italians faced the team of Slovakian Tereza Mihalikova and Great Britain's Olivia Nicholls . The match ended 6-4 , 6-0 in favor of Errani-Paolini, who demonstrated tactical supremacy from the first serve.
The result and the standings Race
The result allowed the Italians to move up to ninth place in the Race to the WTA Finals , the last available spot for the prestigious end-of-year event. Mihalikova and Nicholls, ranked tenth, had recently won cups in Miami and Wuhan, but their journey ended in Tokyo.
Qualification for WTA Finals: last place has arrived
With the result of the semifinal, Errani and Paolini have definitively closed their qualification path for the WTA Finals doubles for 2026. The pair, who occupied ninth place in the Race , overcame the final difficulties linked to the absence of other contenders, such as Anna Danilina and the Serbian Aleksandra Krunic, out due to a knee injury.
The course in the Toray Pan Pacific Open
Before the semifinals, the Italians had already shown solidity, defeating the Anna Danilina / Xinyu Jiang pair in straight sets in the first round, thus cementing their ambitions for the final. Their style of play, based on decisive volleys and impeccable court coverage, destabilized more experienced opponents.
With their semifinal victory, the two earned the right to face their opponents in the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open . Their goal now is to win the title in a competition that, in addition to the $1,206,446 prize pool, represents a milestone in the careers of both players.
The WTA Finals represent not only the culmination of the season for Errani and Paolini, but also the chance to advance beyond the group stage for the first time, after two previous appearances that ended in the first round. Their history of three consecutive years at the Finals speaks to their constant growth and strong determination.
The Japanese crowd, already enthusiastic about the event, greeted the Italians with prolonged applause, recognizing in them the combination of experience and aggressiveness typical of a top-level doubles team. The final, scheduled for November 1st, promises to settle the remaining points in the Race standings and confirm the Italians' permanence at the top of the women's circuit.