Diana Shnaider finally claims first title in 2026 at the Pan Pacific Open against Leylah Fernandez

It was a battle of the lefties in the Pan Pacific Open final. The match swayed from one end of the court to another, but it was Diana Shnaider who found another gear late on to sail towards the championship, defeating Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.

Aside from a blip at the end of the second set, the Russian proved to be the better player on the day and had the tools necessary to get the better of a tricky opponent. It was a third WTA 500 final in this Asian swing for Fernandez, winning in Singapore before losing last time out in Ningbo against the World No.1 Elena Rybakina.

She was looking to get herself back in the winning enclosure with another impressive title charge, but Shnaider would halt these efforts to claim a sixth WTA title from seven finals, winning her last six finals in a satisfying record. After a dominant first set, it looked to be a very quick final encounter before the Canadian won seven of the final eight games in the second set to force a decider. A later burst from Shnaider did the job, and she was back on the top step of the podium.

Shnaider is someone moving the right way up the rankings. It has been a great year for her, but finally she wins a first title, making it three campaigns on the spin where she has lifted a trophy at the end of a tournament. She also climbs another two spots to 11th in the world, her joint career high. A top 10 breakthrough is not close for the time being with Marta Kostyuk around 700 points clear, but she leaves herself in a great position heading into 2026.

Shnaider was piling the pressure on from the off, trying to make her opponent feel uncomfortable on court and seize the all-important breakthrough. One solitary break point was not taken, but the Russian bided her time and soon found herself ahead.

She made it three consecutive games with a break sandwiched in between a brace of holds to lead 3-1. A hold to love restored her two-game advantage before a second break opened up the advantage and allowed her to serve it out.

Shnaider had won eight points in a row, but when it really mattered, she was not as clinical. One set point came and went with Fernandez claiming one of the breaks back. It was all in vain as Shnaider made things right two games later, responding to her opponents' hold to love with one of her own to stamp her authority on this final.

It was not going to be straightforward from here. That seemed the case after a blistering start to the second set saw the 22-year-old lead 4-0. Fernandez had missed two break points in there, but she was faltering on serve, and the conclusion seemed near.

However, she attempted a valiant comeback. A three-game burst halved the break deficit and closed the gap to just one game. Shnaider held serve and edged within one of the match, but she would not win another game in the second set.

A commanding hold by Fernandez was followed by a tight break, in which no match points were created. She took the lead of the set for the very first time before getting herself back on level terms with a fourth consecutive game. In similar fashion to Shnaider at the start of the set, Fernandez timed her charge to perfection and was still in the hunt for a sixth WTA title.

She almost made it six on the spin, and that could have proven pivotal. Leading 0-40 against the serve, Shnaider would win the next five points and avert any danger to end the rut she was going through. She soon made her opponent pay, moving up the gears as she stormed to victory.

As the former US Open finalist held serve to go 2-1 to the good, she was not aware that it would be the final game she would win in this match. Shnaider battled hard to once again get level before winning the final four games while dropping just five points in the process. A first championship point was converted, and she claims a deserved and hard-fought title in the Japanese capital.