By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Sunday, October 27, 2024

Zheng Qinwen served up convincing closure in Tokyo.

Zheng zapped 16 aces and did not drop serve defeating Sofia Kenin 7-6(5), 6-3 to collect her third title of the year at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

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Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng won 38 of 41 first-serve points and saved the only break point she faced holding in holding for a 5-2 second-set lead.

Zheng closed out Kenin in one hour, 52 minutes for her fifth career championship.

"I really appreciate that I’m able to fight through and be the champion in Tokyo," Zheng. "This is the one I wanted to get when I was 19 years old.

"I fight so hard, but I didn’t, I lost in the [2022] final. So this year, I’m just really happy."



A streaking Zheng scored her 28th win in her last 32 matches since Wimbledon.

A confident Zheng completed the fall Asian swing with a 12-2 record, winning the Tokyo title, finishing runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in the Wuhan final and bowing to Karolina Muchova in the Beijing semifinals.

Former world No. 4 Kenin was playing for her sixth career championship. Kenin fought hard saving seven of eight break points, but could not break the Zheng serve..