What Is 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open - Doubles

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles was won by Japanese pair Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi, who defeated Monica Niculescu and Yanina Wickmayer in the final 6–1, 6–4 on September 23, 2017, in Tokyo. It was their first WTA Premier title together and a significant milestone for Japanese tennis.

Key Facts

Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi won the 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles title.
The final took place on September 23, 2017, in Tokyo, Japan.
The winning pair defeated Monica Niculescu and Yanina Wickmayer 6–1, 6–4.
This was Aoyama and Hozumi’s first WTA Premier doubles title as a team.
The tournament was held at the Ariake Coliseum on outdoor hard courts.

Overview

The 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles was a prominent women’s professional tennis event held as part of the WTA Premier tournaments. Taking place in Tokyo, Japan, from September 18 to 23, 2017, it featured a high-caliber doubles draw with top international pairs competing for ranking points and prize money.

Hosted at the Ariake Coliseum on outdoor hard courts, the tournament served as a key lead-in event to the US Open Series. The doubles competition showcased strong performances from seeded teams, culminating in a historic victory for the Japanese duo Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi, who claimed their first Premier title together.

Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi won the title by defeating Monica Niculescu and Yanina Wickmayer in the final with a decisive 6–1, 6–4 scoreline on September 23, 2017.
The tournament was classified as a WTA Premier event, offering 470 ranking points and part of the WTA Tour’s Asian swing.
Eight seeded pairs competed in the 16-team draw, including teams from Romania, Belgium, Japan, and the United States.
The doubles final was played on outdoor hard courts at Ariake Coliseum, a venue known for its fast surface and high-altitude conditions.
Aoyama and Hozumi entered as unseeded players but defeated the third-seeded pair in the semifinals, marking a breakthrough performance for Japanese tennis.

How It Works

The WTA doubles format follows a standard knockout structure with best-of-three sets, including a match tiebreak in place of a third set at most Premier events. The 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open adhered to these rules, ensuring fast-paced matches and strategic team dynamics.

Knockout Format: The doubles draw consisted of 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket. Each loss eliminated a pair, with no repechage or consolation rounds.
Match Tiebreak: In lieu of a full third set, a 10-point match tiebreak was used, requiring a team to reach 10 points with a 2-point margin.
Seeding: The top four pairs were seeded based on WTA rankings, granting them favorable placement to avoid early matchups with other top teams.
Prize Money: The doubles champions earned $31,800 from a total purse of $789,225, with points distributed across all rounds.
Ranking Points: Winners received 470 WTA points, crucial for year-end rankings and qualification for year-end championships.
Player Eligibility: Entry was determined by WTA rankings, with wild cards granted to local players like Hozumi to support domestic participation.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles with other WTA Premier events from the same year:

Tournament	Location	Surface	Champions	Winner’s Points
2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open	Tokyo, Japan	Outdoor Hard	Shuko Aoyama / Eri Hozumi	470
2017 Dubai Tennis Championships	Dubai, UAE	Outdoor Hard	Chan Yung-jan / Martina Hingis	470
2017 Eastbourne International	Eastbourne, UK	Grass	Julia Görges / Barbora Strýcová	280
2017 Cincinnati Masters	Cincinnati, USA	Outdoor Hard	Chan Yung-jan / Martina Hingis	900
2017 Wuhan Open	Wuhan, China	Outdoor Hard	Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic	900

The Toray Pan Pacific Open ranked among the mid-tier WTA Premier events in terms of prestige and points. Unlike Premier Mandatory events such as Wuhan or Cincinnati, it awarded 470 points, placing it on par with Dubai. Its outdoor hard courts and timing in September made it a strategic stop for players preparing for the Asian swing or winding down their seasons.

Why It Matters

The 2017 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles had significant implications for player development, national pride, and the WTA Tour’s global footprint. The victory by Aoyama and Hozumi marked a milestone for Japanese tennis, highlighting the growth of the sport domestically.

Historic Win: Aoyama and Hozumi became the first all-Japanese pair to win the Toray Pan Pacific Open doubles title since 1995.
National Pride: Their victory energized Japanese tennis fans and inspired young players across the country to pursue doubles specialization.
WTA Rankings Boost: Both players rose in the doubles rankings, helping them secure entries into Grand Slam events later in the season.
Tournament Legacy: The win underscored the importance of home-court advantage and local investment in WTA events.
Pathway for Asians: It demonstrated that Asian players could compete and win at the Premier level, encouraging regional development programs.
Media Attention: The final received extensive coverage in Japanese media, increasing visibility for women’s tennis in Asia.

The 2017 doubles title remains a landmark moment in the tournament’s history, symbolizing both athletic excellence and cultural significance within the sport.