Elena Rybakina pulls out of Tokyo citing back pain before semifinal match

TOKYO (AP) — Elena Rybakina pulled out of the Pan Pacific Open on Saturday, citing a back problem a day after her quarterfinal victory clinched the last remaining spot for the WTA Finals.

The 2022 Wimbledon champion was due to face Linda Noskova in the semifinals at the Tokyo tournament.

"I'm very sorry I can't play today," Rybakina said in a statement. "I have been having problems with my back this week and can't play 100%."

Read More: Elena Rybakina becomes eighth and final qualifier for WTA Finals after reaching semifinals in Tokyo

Noskova will face Belinda Bencic in Sunday's final after the Swiss player beat Sofia Kenin 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-2 in the other semifinal match.

Bencic heads into her 10th career final, which comes 10 years after her previous Pan Pacific Open final appearance, a loss in 2015 to Agnieszka Radwanska. Bencic also won the Olympic singles gold medal and doubles silver in Tokyo four years ago.

Rybakina beat Victoria Mboko 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Friday to take the eighth spot for next month's lucrative WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

At the WTA Finals, scheduled Nov. 1-8, Rybakina will join top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, and Jasmine Paolini.

Gauff is the defending champion in Riyadh. The American beat Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in last year's final and received $4.8 million in prize money.