What Is 2007 Toray Pan Pacific Open - Singles

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2007 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles was a WTA Tour tennis tournament held in Tokyo from January 29 to February 4, 2007. Maria Sharapova won the title by defeating Ana Ivanovic 6–1, 2–6, 6–0 in the final.

Key Facts

The 2007 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles took place from January 29 to February 4, 2007
Maria Sharapova won the title, defeating Ana Ivanovic 6–1, 2–6, 6–0 in the final
The tournament was held at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan
It was a Premier-level event on the 2007 WTA Tour with a prize money pool of $600,000
Sharapova did not lose a single set throughout the entire tournament en route to victory

Overview

The 2007 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Singles was a significant event on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, held annually in Tokyo, Japan. As a Premier-level tournament, it attracted many of the world's top-ranked female tennis players competing on indoor hard courts at the Ariake Coliseum.

This edition marked the 24th iteration of the event and served as a key early-season tournament in the WTA calendar. The competition featured a 56-player singles draw, with seeded players receiving first-round byes, and culminated in a decisive final between rising star Ana Ivanovic and defending champion Maria Sharapova.

Event Dates: The tournament ran from January 29 to February 4, 2007, serving as a critical warm-up for the upcoming hard court season.
Location: Held at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, a state-of-the-art indoor tennis facility with a capacity of over 10,000 spectators.
Surface: The event was played on DecoTurf indoor hard courts, known for medium-paced rallies and consistent bounce.
Prize Money: Total purse amounted to $600,000, with the winner receiving $96,500 and 280 ranking points.
Champion:Maria Sharapova claimed her second consecutive title at the event, becoming the first player to defend her title since 1995.

How It Works

The tournament followed a standard WTA Premier draw structure with single-elimination matches across six rounds, including a final. Players competed in best-of-three sets, with tiebreaks used in all sets reaching 6-6.

Format:56-player singles draw with 16 seeds receiving first-round byes, ensuring top players entered in the second round.
Scoring: Matches used standard WTA scoring rules, with a 12-point tiebreak at 6-6 in each set, except the final set which had no tiebreak.
Surface Impact: The indoor hard courts favored aggressive baseliners like Sharapova, who thrived on the medium-fast pace and low humidity conditions.
Player Entry: Entry was based on WTA rankings, with wildcards granted to Japanese players such as Ai Sugiyama and Sania Mirza.
Seeding: Sharapova was the second seed, behind Justine Henin, who withdrew due to injury before the event began.
Final Match: The final lasted 1 hour and 38 minutes, with Sharapova dominating the third set 6–0 after splitting the first two.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2007 Toray Pan Pacific Open with the previous two editions in terms of key metrics and outcomes:

Year	Champion	Runner-up	Score	Prize Money
2005	Maria Sharapova	Martina Hingis	4–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–1	$585,000
2006	Maria Sharapova	Francesca Schiavone	6–1, 6–1	$585,000
2007	Maria Sharapova	Ana Ivanovic	6–1, 2–6, 6–0	$600,000
2004	Kim Clijsters	Lindsay Davenport	6–4, 6–1	$585,000
2003	Justine Henin	Kim Clijsters	6–3, 4–6, 6–3	$585,000

The 2007 edition saw a slight increase in prize money and a more competitive final compared to 2006, where Sharapova won in straight sets. Ivanovic's strong second set performance highlighted her emergence as a top-tier player, though she was overwhelmed in the decider. The consistency of Sharapova’s performance across three years underscored her dominance on indoor hard courts during this period.

Why It Matters

The 2007 Toray Pan Pacific Open had lasting implications for player rankings, tournament prestige, and the development of women's tennis in Asia. It reinforced Tokyo's status as a premier stop on the WTA Tour and highlighted the growing global reach of the sport.

Historic Achievement: Sharapova became the first player since 1995 (Larisa Neiland) to win back-to-back titles at the event.
Rankings Impact: The 280 points earned helped Sharapova maintain her position in the world’s top 3 during early 2007.
Emerging Rivals: The final marked the first of several high-profile meetings between Sharapova and Ivanovic, who would face off in Grand Slams later.
Tournament Prestige: As a Premier-level WTA event, it elevated Tokyo’s status alongside Doha and Dubai in the early-season calendar.
Japanese Tennis: Local interest surged due to wildcards and strong performances by Ai Sugiyama, boosting domestic engagement.
Commercial Success: Toray Industries’ continued sponsorship demonstrated the growing commercial viability of women’s tennis in Asia.

This tournament not only showcased elite athletic performance but also highlighted the global expansion of women’s tennis, with Tokyo serving as a key hub for international competition and fan engagement.