Katie Boulter’s run on the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo got here to an finish on Saturday after she was overwhelmed in straight units by Sofia Kenin within the semi-finals.
The British No 1 missed the prospect to succeed in her third WTA Tour remaining of the yr following a 6-4, 6-4 loss to the 2020 Australian Open champion, who will face China’s Zheng Qinwen within the remaining.
Kenin broke within the fifth and seventh video games of the opener earlier than Boulter pulled one break again and saved three set factors, just for the American to serve out the set on the second try.
Boulter did not convert any of her 4 break factors within the sixth recreation of the second set, and Kenin pounced to interrupt her opponent within the subsequent recreation. Kenin, who beat Emma Raducanu within the first spherical eventually month’s US Open, then held her nerve to wrap up victory in a single hour and 29 minutes.
Zheng, the Olympic champion and No 1 seed in Tokyo, defeated Diana Shnaider 7-6 (5), 6-3 within the second semi-final. Zheng raced right into a 4-0 lead with two breaks in fast succession, however dropped her degree to permit her Russian opponent a manner again into the primary set.
Fast Information
How do I join sport breaking information alerts?
Present
- Obtain the Guardian app from the iOS App Retailer on iPhone or the Google Play retailer on Android by trying to find ‘The Guardian’.
- If you have already got the Guardian app, be sure to’re on the latest model.
- Within the Guardian app, faucet the Menu button on the backside proper, then go to Settings (the gear icon), then Notifications.
- Activate sport notifications.
Shnaider received three straight video games to go away the opening set at 4-3, defended three set factors to carry beneath stress for 5-4 after which saved one other to interrupt Zheng’s serve for a second time and degree at 5-5. Zheng rallied to win the tie-break, taking three consecutive factors to win it 7-5.
Early within the second set, Zheng’s first-serve proportion dropped and Shnaider broke for 2-1, however the prime seed broke proper again and adopted up with one other for a 4-2 lead which she wouldn’t relinquish.
In Austria, Jack Draper will face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti on Saturday afternoon for a spot within the remaining of the Vienna Open. The winner will face both Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur, who meet within the second semi-final.
