Pan Pacific Open: Sofia Kenin continues renaissance, into Tokyo final after besting Boulter

Sofia Kenin was a late addition to the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with Emma Raducanu deciding against playing and she has made good on her chance with a superb run to the final. She defeated Katie Boulter in straight sets.

It is the latest renaissance for an American player after Danielle Collins of course earlier in the season and could gleam a first title in some time for the 2020 Australian Open champion. Against Boulter, she claimed it 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 30 minutes as the former World No.4 will now face Qinwen Zheng or Diana Shnaider in the final.

The Chinese ace is a set up thus far after narrowly winning a tie-break. Boulter was broken twice in the tie losing the impetus in the first set albeit she recovered one of the breaks when Kenin served for the set. Albeit she was unable to break once more and Kenin secured the set at the second time of asking.

Kenin had to save four break points in the sixth game of the second set. But she then held on to make it 3-3. She broke back in the following game and maintained her advantage from there to win three games in a row to claim the win. She currently sits just outside of the World's top 160 before this week and has already risen 68 spots back to World No.87.

A player that ended last season inside the top 50, she will hope to return towards that point with the title this week in what already is a much needed boost for her ambitions.