Tokyo Triumph and Italian Torchbearer Spotlight: Bencic Wins in Tokyo as Paolini Gets Olympic Torch Honor
26 October 2025
Tokyo Final: Bencic Breaks Through
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland captured the Toray Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo on Sunday, a 500-point event, defeating 20-year-old Czech Linda Nosková in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, in 1 hour 22 minutes. Nosková had advanced to the final after two walkovers, playing only 35 minutes across the quarterfinal and semifinal in Tokyo. In contrast, Bencic logged 5 hours and 23 minutes of play over the two previous days, including two matches in three sets and a comeback in the quarterfinal against Karolina Moková.
In the final, the 28-year-old Bencic avenged a final loss at the same event from ten years earlier and lifted the trophy, signaling a strong end to a demanding couple of days. The victory pushes her to No. 11 in the world rankings, placing her back among the top 10 contenders for the season’s remaining events.
This win marks Bencic’s second title of the season and the 10th of her career, underscoring a historical milestone in a year that has already seen her collect multiple trophies.
Quotes from Bencic
Speaking to the WTA’s official website, the Swiss star said: “It was wonderful to play in front of you all. The last time I won here was at the Tokyo Olympics when the stadium was empty, so the atmosphere was very different, but it was fantastic to play in front of you. I love playing in Japan, so I’m very happy to have won this tournament.”
Special Honor for Paolini
Jasmine Paolini revealed this week that she will be one of 10,001 people carrying the Olympic flame across Italy ahead of the 2026 Winter Games. The torch relay will cover more than 12,000 kilometers, starting in Rome on December 6, weaving along the Italian coast, including Corsica and Sicily, across 60 towns, and finishing in Cortina d’Ampezzo before the flame lights the Olympic cauldron in Milan on February 6. This will be Italy’s fourth hosting of the Games, the first since 2006.
Italian Torchbearers and Paolini’s Career
In September, Paolini and former player Flavia Pennetta were named among Milan–Cortina 2026’s first torchbearers. Paolini is a cornerstone of Italy’s national teams and represents the country as one of its top players. Last summer, Paolini and Sara Errani won Olympic gold in Paris, underscoring Italy’s tennis strength. She has also contributed to Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup successes, adding to the country’s expanding title tally in recent years. Paolini capped the season by winning Rome (1,000 points) on clay and reaching the Cincinnati final on hard courts, bringing her total career titles to three. After lifting the Billie Jean King Cup again, Paolini said, “Playing for the national team is something I’ve always dreamed of, and every time I represent Italy I feel it is a great honor.”
She is set to finish the season at the season-ending finials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 1–8, alongside seven other top players: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisimova, Madison Keys, and Elina Rybakina. This season Paolini also won Rome and has continued to push Italy’s presence on the global tennis stage.
The Endgame for Paolini
Paolini’s ongoing ascent has kept Italy in the global spotlight as it prepares for another Olympic cycle and a 2026 host run. The season’s closing stretch in Riyadh will test the Italian’s form against a top-tier field before the Olympics torch celebration continues across Italy.
Punchline 1: If tennis ever needed a good joke, it would be a spectator shouting “love all,” while the scoreboard still lists zero—ring the bell, comedy club meets centre court.
Punchline 2: They say the torch travels 12,000 kilometers; I travel 12,000 excuses for why my forehand didn’t land. Guess which one is heavier?
