Slovak teenager Mia Pohankova secured the biggest victory of her career on Thursday, defeating former champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. WTA Tennis reported that the 18-year-old wild-card entry overcame an early deficit to record a 6-3, 7-5 win in 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Early Deficit Overcome in Tokyo
Pohankova dropped the opening two games of the match before surging back to claim the first set 6-3. According to WTA Tennis, the world No. 144 saved break points in two of her service games during a tightly contested second set before breaking Osaka in the 12th game to seal the match. Sky Sports noted that Osaka was seeded No. 7 and playing in front of a home crowd in Japan.
Season-Ending Defeat for Osaka
For Osaka, the second-round loss officially wraps up her 2026 season, as reported by Tennishead. Al Jazeera noted that the four-time Grand Slam champion had not won a title this year and was appearing at the Pan Pacific Open for the first time in four years. Tennishead added that this marked the lowest-ranked loss Osaka has suffered since falling to a returning Belinda Bencic at the 2025 Australian Open.
Biggest win of her career ✨Mia Pohankova defeats Osaka 6-3, 7-5 in Tokyo to reach her first ever WTA quarterfinal!#torayppo pic.twitter.com/lV5i4qQZWI
Road to the Quarterfinals
Pohankova entered the Tokyo main draw following a rapid rise in the rankings. Tennishead noted that she was ranked No. 659 at this time last year before winning an ITF W75 title, finishing as a runner-up at an ITF W100 event, and reaching back-to-back WTA 125 semifinals in September. Following her win over Osaka, Pohankova will face American Alycia Parks in the quarterfinals, aiming for her first semifinal.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
What was the final score of the match between Naomi Osaka and Mia Pohankova?
Mia Pohankova defeated Naomi Osaka 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open on Thursday, according to WTA Tennis.
What ranking did Mia Pohankova hold entering the tournament?
Pohankova entered the WTA 500 event ranked No. 144 in the world and competed as a wild-card entry, as reported by WTA Tennis and Tennishead.
Who will Mia Pohankova play next in Tokyo?
Pohankova will face American player Alycia Parks in the quarterfinals of the tournament, according to Sky Sports.
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