Katie Boulter's journey at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo concluded on Saturday as she was defeated in straight sets by Sofia Kenin in the semi-finals. The British No. 1 missed the opportunity to reach her third WTA Tour final this year, succumbing to a 6-4, 6-4 loss against the 2020 Australian Open champion, who will now face China's Zheng Qinwen in the final.
Kenin secured breaks in the fifth and seventh games of the first set before Boulter managed to pull one break back and saved three set points. However, the American closed out the set on her second attempt. Boulter struggled to capitalize on her four break points in the sixth game of the second set, and Kenin seized the moment to break her opponent in the next game. Kenin, who had previously defeated Emma Raducanu in the first round of last month's US Open, maintained her composure to secure victory in one hour and 29 minutes.
In the other semi-final, Zheng Qinwen, the Olympic champion and top seed in Tokyo, overcame Diana Shnaider 7-6 (5), 6-3. Zheng quickly established a 4-0 lead with two rapid breaks, but her performance dipped, allowing the Russian to claw her way back into the first set. Shnaider won three consecutive games to narrow the gap to 4-3, defended three set points to hold serve at 5-4, and then saved another to break Zheng's serve for the second time, leveling the score at 5-5. Zheng rallied to win the tie-break, securing three consecutive points to take it 7-5.
In the second set, Zheng's first-serve percentage faltered, and Shnaider capitalized to break for a 2-1 lead. However, the top seed broke back immediately and followed up with another break to establish a 4-2 lead, which she maintained to secure her place in the final.
Meanwhile, in Austria, Jack Draper will face Italy's Lorenzo Musetti on Saturday afternoon for a spot in the final of the Vienna Open. The victor will go on to face either Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur, who will compete in the second semi-final.
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