Sports
Fernandez overcomes Rakhimova to book spot in Tokyo Open final
Fernandez reached the quarter-finals when Rybakina withdrew from their match with a neck injury, a day after securing the year-end world number one ranking.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez has booked her place in the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo after defeating Uzbekistan’s Kamilla Rakhimova in straight sets on Saturday.
The world number 23 secured a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Rakhimova to extend her impressive run during the Asian swing of the women’s tennis season.
Fernandez has enjoyed a strong run of form in recent weeks, winning her first title of the season in Singapore last month before reaching the final of the Ningbo Open in China last week.
However, her campaign in Ningbo ended in defeat against world number one Elena Rybakina.
The Canadian will now face either Russia’s Diana Shnaider or Slovakia’s Mia Pohankova in the Tokyo final as she targets the seventh title of her WTA Tour career.
Fernandez reached the quarter-finals when Rybakina withdrew from their match with a neck injury, a day after securing the year-end world number one ranking.
World number 66 Rakhimova was eliminated in qualifying in Tokyo but entered the main draw as a lucky loser and made it all the way to the semi-finals.
She was attempting to reach her first final on the WTA Tour but she ran into a player in form in Fernandez, who hit nine aces.
The Canadian went a break down early in the first set but soon recovered with a break of her own before tipping the balance her way.
Rakhimova also went a break up early in the second set but Fernandez clawed her way back again and took the match in just under two hours.
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