Shnaider beats Fernandez to claim Pan Pacific Open title

Tokyo: Russia’s Diana Shnaider overcame a second-set wobble to beat Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday and win the Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo. The final lasted two hours and 18 minutes and swung through three distinct phases: Shnaider’s control in the first set, Fernandez’s fightback in the second and Shnaider’s composure under pressure in the decider. Shnaider saved three break points early in the third set before closing out the victory. The 22-year-old has now won six straight finals on the WTA tour, a run that underlines her ability to handle the biggest occasions. She eased through the opening set but looked in trouble after relinquishing the second. Fernandez, playing her second straight final, made the most of the shift in momentum and took the match to a deciding set. In the third, Shnaider faced immediate pressure but held firm, saved the break points and then reasserted control to win the title. After the match, Shnaider thanked her coach, who was with her in Tokyo, and described the title as her first of the season. She said it meant a lot to her and was a great achievement and a great finish to the season. The win also extended her impressive record in WTA finals and gave her another important title at the back end of the year. Fernandez was playing in her second consecutive final after losing to world number one Elena Rybakina at the Ningbo Open last week. She won the Singapore Open in September and has shown consistency by reaching deep stages of tournaments. After the Tokyo final, she congratulated Shnaider and said it had been an amazing week and a great match. She also hoped the two players would have many more battles like this one. The match itself was a study in momentum. Shnaider was aggressive and controlled in the first set, but Fernandez responded in the second and forced a decider. The third set turned on the early break points, which Shnaider saved before pulling away. Tokyo’s final thus became a test of patience and nerve as much as shot-making, and Shnaider passed it to claim the Pan Pacific Open crown. In other tennis news, Carlos Alcaraz reached his first Vienna final and will face Alex de Minaur after Alexander Zverev was upset. Alcaraz’s run to the final marks another milestone in his season, while de Minaur’s win over Zverev changed the shape of the tournament. The final is expected to be an intriguing contest between two players in strong form.