Wednesday at the 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open saw the start of second-round play and the stacked field offered some very competitive matches.
The day started out with a true highlight as the fans inside Ariake Coliseum got to watch an Olympic Games rematch when Petra Kvitova faced off with Monica Puig. After winning their semifinal match in Brazil and moving on to win the Olympic gold, Puig edged out another win against the Czech Wimbledon champion despite losing the first set in a quick fashion.
While Kvitova, the 2013 Tokyo champion, had to pack up early, two other past champions fared much better — both Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska made the tournament’s quarterfinals. Both players found themselves in tough three-set matches, with reigning champion Radwanska coming particularly close to be upset by Barbora Strycova.
With three of four matches going the three-set distance, Wednesday only had one swift match in store and much to the delight of the crowd, it was local girl Naomi Osaka who clinched the only straight-set win of the day, blazing past Dominika Cibulkova to make the quarterfinals.
The 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open will continue on Thursday as Garbine Muguruza and US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova are due to kick off their Tokyo campaigns, playing their first matches inside Ariake Coliseum this year.
PHOTOS FROM PREVIOUS DAYS AT THE 2016 TORAY PAN PACIFIC OPEN:
- Tuesday: Kimono fun and matches under Ariake Coliseum’s roof on another rainy day
- Monday: Naomi Osaka and Monica Puig progress on a rainy day
