Tokyo
Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin advanced to the final of the Pan Pacific Open with a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over Britain’s Katie Boulter on Saturday. This marks Kenin’s best performance of the season.
The 25-year-old American, who was the 2020 Australian Open winner and a French Open finalist, showcased her experience by breaking Boulter’s serve in the second set’s seventh game. Kenin then served out the match to secure her spot in the final.
Ranked as high as No. 4 in 2020, Kenin’s career had been hampered by injuries, including ankle and quadriceps problems, leading to a current WTA ranking of 155. This final run in Tokyo signals a potential return to form for the American.
Boulter, ranked 33rd, had not lost a set during the tournament before facing Kenin. The two had met once before in Acapulco in 2019, where Boulter retired injured after trailing Kenin.
In the other semifinal, top seed and Paris Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen was set to face Diana Shnaider to determine who would play Kenin in Sunday’s final.
