TENNIS: FERNANDEZ BEATS RAKHIMOVA TO REACH TOKYO FINAL

Canada’s Leylah Fernandez continued her strong run in Asia on Saturday, defeating Kamilla Rakhimova 7–5, 6–3 to reach the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo.

The world number 23 recovered from an early service break in both sets, hitting nine aces to secure victory in just under two hours.

Fernandez will face either Russia’s Diana Shnaider or Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova as she pursues her seventh WTA Tour title.

The Canadian won her first title of the season in Singapore last month before reaching last week’s Ningbo Open final, where she lost to Elena Rybakina.

Her latest victory ended an impressive tournament for Uzbekistan’s Rakhimova, who reached the semi-finals after entering the main draw as a lucky loser following defeat in qualifying.

Ranked 66th, Rakhimova was chasing her first WTA Tour final. She threatened an upset by moving ahead early in each set, but Fernandez fought back on both occasions to keep her title hopes alive.