Japan Open: Tiafoe makes final, ending Kwon’s run

Frances Tiafoe edged out SoonWoo Kwon 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 on Saturday

Frances Tiafoe, Tokyo 2022 | © Zuma / Panoramic

October 8, 2022

American Frances Tiafoe, the No 4 seed, reached the final of the Japan Open by edging out SoonWoo Kwon 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 at the Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo on Saturday.

Foe real 💥 @FTiafoe pushes past Soonwoo Kwon 6-2 0-6 6-4 to reach the final in Tokyo. #RakutenOpen pic.twitter.com/p7TmNXMSVh
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 8, 2022

Tiafoe, ranked No 19, will face American Taylor Fritz, the No 3 seed.

This is Tiafoe’s second final this year after Estoril (loss against Baez). The American beat Japanese wildcard Yasutaka Uchiyama (6-3, 6-4), Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles (6-1, 7-6 (7)) and Serb Miomir Kecmanovic (6-0, 6-4) ahead of his victory.

Kwon, ranked No 120, has just reached the first ATP 500 semi-finals of his career. He won against Australian Alex De Minaur, the No 6 seed (6-3, 6-2), American Mackenzie McDonald (6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2) and Spaniard Pedro Martinez (6-3, 6-0).