By Alberto Amalfi | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, October 26, 2024
Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng Qinwen defeated Diana Shnaider 7-6(5), 6-3 to reach her second straight final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Photo credit: Robert Prange/Getty
A red-hot Zheng Qinwen will face a resurgent Sofia Kenin for the Tokyo title on Sunday.
Olympic gold-medal champion Zheng defeated Diana Shnaider 7-6(5), 6-3 to reach her second straight final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
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Earlier, world No. 155 Kenin dispatched ninth-seeded Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-4 in the day's first semifinal.
The 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin is into her first Tour-level singles final since San Diego last year.
Kenin served 73 percent and saved four of five break points beating Boulter for the second time in as many meetings.
Former world No. 4 Kenin is playing for her sixth career singles championship, including her first since 2020 Lyon.
A streaking Zheng, who beat Leylah Fernandez in a three-set quarterfinal, smacked seven aces against one double fault fighting off Shnaider in one hour, 49 minutes.
It is Zheng's 27th victory in her last 31 matches since Wimbledon.
World No. 7 Zheng charged into her second straight final—she was runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan two weeks ago—and her second consecutive Tokyo final following her run to the 2022 title match.
The 2023 WTA Most Improved Player, Zheng will face Kenin for the first time on Sunday.