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Naomi Osaka Wins First Tokyo Title Since 2019

By Drooid · Oct 27, 2026, 23:15 UTC · How we work

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Summary

Naomi Osaka defeated Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 7-6(4) at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
She saved three set points at 5-6 before winning the tiebreak.
Osaka wore a blue-white kimono-style cape with crane embroidery by Hana Yagi, honoring Japan and her mother’s Hokkaido home.
The victory was her first Tokyo title since 2019, raising her record to 31-12 and setting a quarterfinal against Mia Pohanková.

History

Kimiko Date’s 1995 Japan Open victory—her fourth Japan Open title and a career-high world No. 4—made her the first Japanese woman to win a WTA tournament at home, igniting nationwide tennis interest. Naomi Osaka’s 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open win, showcased with a crane-embroidered kimono cape by designer Hana Yagi, mirrors Date’s cultural celebration and signals Japan’s expanding tennis market.

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Historical Context

Kimiko Date’s 1995 Japan Open victory—her fourth Japan Open title and a career-high world No. 4—made her the first Japanese woman to win a WTA tournament at home, igniting nationwide tennis interest. Naomi Osaka’s 2024 Toray Pan Pacific Open win, showcased with a crane-embroidered kimono cape by designer Hana Yagi, mirrors Date’s cultural celebration and signals Japan’s expanding tennis market.

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