Chinese star will want to go one better after losing to Liudmila Samsonova two years ago. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The final WTA-500 semifinals of 2024 take place in Tokyo on Saturday. Olympic gold medalist Qinwen Zheng will face Diana Shnaider, while the 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin is set to battle Katie Boulter.

Zheng Qinwen saw off a spirited challenge from Diana Shnaider to secure a hard-fought 7-6(5) 6-3 win in their Pan Pacific Open semifinal on Saturday and set up a title clash against American Sofia Kenin.

No. 1 seed Zheng Qinwen has made back-to-back WTA finals after ousting sixth-seeded Diana Shnaider 7-6 (5) 6-3 at the WTA 500 tournament in Tokyo. After getting off to a very fast start but then nearly blowing a big first-set lead, the Chinese tennis star managed to consolidate and get the job done in two sets 7-6 (5) 6-3.

Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has advanced to the final of the Pan Pacific Open with a 6-4, 6-4 win over ninth-seeded Katie Boulter.

Top-seeded Qinwen Zheng of China claimed the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win over American wild card Sofia Kenin in the final and clinch her place in the WTA finals