Toray Pan Pacific Open in Japan canceled for 2020

TOKYO, Japan - The Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan has been canceled for 2020. 

The decision follows the postponement of the Summer Olympic Games, also set to take place Japan's capital city, and the cancelation of seven tournaments initially scheduled to take place in China, including the Shiseido WTA Finals Shenzhen.

"It is with great regret to announce that the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis Executive Committee, after much consultation with WTA, decided to cancel the Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis 2020," the tournament announced in an official statement.

"With the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, the WTA Premier tournament in Tokyo, Japan, was initially postponed for two months from September to November. The Executive Committee looked at every possible way to make this tournament happen, including the idea of holding matches without audiences or restricting admissions in order to prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved including players, officials and judges, ball boys and girls, stewards, sponsors and partners, suppliers and contractors, media, guests and all other staff.

"However, after a series of deliberations, the Executive Committee made a heartrending decision to rule out the postponement, and concluded that the cancelation of the tournament was the best decision in the interest of public health, especially in light of the concern about the second wave of infection spreading in Japan.

"This will be the first cancellation since this tournament commenced in 1984. This is very unfortunate not only for the international tennis players but for all tennis fans inside and outside of Japan who were looking forward to watching top quality tennis. The Executive Committee will now shift its focus on making 2021 tournament a great success."