Maja Chwalińska withdraws from WTA 500 Tokyo due to injury

Polish tennis player Maja Chwalińska has officially withdrawn from the WTA 500 Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. The 25-year-old, who was seeded second in the tournament, cited a left thigh injury sustained during her recent title run in Wuhan as the reason for her absence.

Chwalińska, who recently reached a career-high ranking of 11th following her victory at the WTA 1000 in Wuhan, had hoped to recover in time through physiotherapy in Tokyo. However, she confirmed via social media that she is not yet ready to compete. Her withdrawal follows a previous withdrawal from the tournament in Ningbo.

Australian Kimberly Birrell will enter the main draw as a lucky loser to take Chwalińska's place. While some reports mentioned potential issues with her elbow, Chwalińska herself confirmed the thigh injury is the primary obstacle to her return to the court.