What Is 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles was won by Sania Mirza and Monica Niculescu, who defeated Shuko Aoyama and Risa Ozaki in the final with a score of 6–3, 6–1 on September 24, 2016, in Tokyo.

Key Facts

Sania Mirza and Monica Niculescu won the 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles title
The final took place on September 24, 2016, in Tokyo, Japan
The winning pair defeated Shuko Aoyama and Risa Ozaki 6–3, 6–1
This was Mirza’s first title with Niculescu as a team
The tournament was part of the WTA Premier series with a prize money pool of $750,000

Overview

The 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles was a prominent women’s tennis event held as part of the WTA Tour’s Premier category. Taking place in Tokyo, Japan, from September 19 to September 24, the doubles competition featured top international pairs competing for ranking points and a share of the $750,000 prize purse.

Played on outdoor hard courts at the Ariake Coliseum, the tournament attracted a strong field of doubles specialists and singles stars teaming up for the week. The event served as a key warm-up for the US Open Series and provided valuable preparation ahead of the season’s final Grand Slam.

Champions: Sania Mirza and Monica Niculescu claimed the title by defeating Shuko Aoyama and Risa Ozaki in straight sets, 6–3, 6–1, in the final on September 24.
Seeding: The Indian-Romanian duo was unseeded, making their victory a notable upset against higher-ranked competition throughout the week.
Venue: Matches were held at the Ariake Coliseum, a 10,000-seat tennis stadium in Tokyo’s Ariake district, known for hosting WTA events since 1984.
Format: The doubles draw featured 16 teams in a single-elimination bracket, with all matches played in best-of-three tiebreak sets.
Prize Money: The tournament offered a total purse of $750,000, with the doubles champions earning $112,000 as a team and 280 WTA ranking points.

Match Format and Scoring

The doubles competition followed standard WTA rules for scoring and match structure, ensuring consistency with other Premier-level events on the tour. Each match was played in a best-of-three sets format, with tiebreaks used in all sets reaching 6–6.

Best-of-Three Sets: Each match consisted of up to three sets, with a 12-point match tiebreak replacing a third set in some cases, though the 2016 edition used full third sets.
Deuce and Advantage Rules: Games followed traditional scoring, requiring a player to win by two clear points when the score reached deuce (40–40).
Changeovers: Players changed ends after every odd-numbered game, with a 90-second break allowed between sets.
Code Violations: The chair umpire enforced time violations, with fines issued for delays exceeding 25 seconds between points.
Seeding and Draws: Eight seeded pairs received first-round byes, with the draw structured to avoid intra-country matchups in early rounds when possible.
Walkovers and Withdrawals: Any player withdrawing before a match started was recorded as a walkover, not counted as a win or loss in official records.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles compared closely with other WTA Premier events in structure and prestige. The table below highlights key differences and similarities with selected tournaments from the same year.

Tournament	Location	Surface	Prize Money	Doubles Champions
2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open	Tokyo, Japan	Hard (outdoor)	$750,000	Mirza / Niculescu
2016 Dubai Tennis Championships	Dubai, UAE	Hard (outdoor)	$1,100,000	Hingis / Mirza
2016 Italian Open	Rome, Italy	Clay (outdoor)	$2,425,000	Kay / Zhang
2016 Cincinnati Open	Cincinnati, USA	Hard (outdoor)	$1,000,000	Mattek-Sands / Šafářová
2016 Wuhan Open	Wuhan, China	Hard (outdoor)	$2,426,000	Hingis / Mirza

While the Toray Pan Pacific Open had a smaller prize fund than some Premier 5 events, it remained a key stop in Asia, attracting strong doubles fields due to its timing and location. The tournament’s hard court surface mirrored US Open conditions, making it a strategic choice for players transitioning from North America.

Why It Matters

The 2016 Toray Pan Pacific Open – Doubles had significant implications for player rankings, partnerships, and regional tennis development in Asia. Its placement on the calendar made it a critical event for fine-tuning doubles chemistry before the season’s final stretch.

Ranking Points: The champions earned 280 WTA ranking points, helping Mirza maintain her position in the top 10 of the doubles rankings.
Partnership Development: The win marked the first title for Mirza and Niculescu as a team, signaling a potential shift in doubles pairings for the 2017 season.
Home Advantage: Japanese players Aoyama and Ozaki reached the final, boosting local interest and participation in doubles tennis.
Regional Exposure: The event increased visibility for women’s tennis in East Asia, with live broadcasts across Japan, China, and South Korea.
Tournament Legacy: As one of the longest-running WTA events in Asia, the Pan Pacific Open has helped establish Tokyo as a consistent stop on the tour since 1984.
Player Preparation: Many participants used the event to adjust to Asian time zones and humidity, aiding performance in subsequent tournaments in China and Southeast Asia.

Overall, the 2016 edition reinforced the tournament’s role in shaping the WTA season’s latter half, offering competitive matches, strategic partnerships, and regional growth opportunities.