Tokyo Open: Zheng sets up title clash with Kenin

Chinese Zheng Qinwen, the top seed, defeated Russian Diana Shnaider, the No 6 seed, 7-6 (5), 6-3 to advance to the final of the Tokyo Open at the Ariake Coliseum on Saturday.

Zheng’s effort against Shnaider lasted for 109 minutes, with the opening set consuming more than an hour. The set opened to a double break by the Chinese, however, the Russian recovered in time to force a tiebreaker, which went the top seed’s way.

The second seed saw Shnaider draw first blood by breaking Zheng in the third game but the latter rose to the occasion and converted two break points in fourth and sixth games to eventually clinch the win.

Zheng, ranked No 7, will face American wildcard Sofia Kenin next. The two haven’t met each other on the WTA Tour yet.

Ahead of her victory, the 22-year-old Chinese won against Japanese Moyuka Uchijima (7-5, 6-0) and Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the No 8 seed (6-0, 1-6, 6-3).

Shnaider, ranked No 16, won against Bulgarian Viktoriya Tomova (6-2, 6-2) and Japanese qualifier Sayaka Ishii (W/O) earlier in the tournament.

Tokyo WTA 500, other semi-final result (Ariake Coliseum, hard, USD 922.573):

• Sofia Kenin beat Katie Boulter (9): 6-4, 6-4

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