Pan Pacific Open Final Preview: Sofia Kenin’s comeback story faces off against in-form Zheng Qinwen

Zheng Qinwen and Sofia Kenin are the finalists at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Japan, the last WTA 500 tournament of the season. The Chinese player continues her winning streak in the Asian Swing and is the favorite against the American, who is gradually overcoming inconsistencies and will play her first final in over four years.

This is a highly intriguing match-up between former Australian Open champion Kenin and recent gold medalist Zheng. When it comes to consistency, Zheng certainly has the edge with her current form. However, a former Grand Slam champion should never be counted out, especially after consecutive wins against strong opponents.

Zheng, holding an impressive 27-4 record since Wimbledon, is currently one of the most in-form players, second only to Aryna Sabalenka. Since then, Zheng has won the Palermo Open, a gold medal at Paris 2024, reached the semifinals at the China Open, and finished as the runner-up at the Wuhan Open. Now, she aims to add another title in Tokyo, boosting her confidence ahead of her first WTA Finals.

This week, the world No. 7 defeated Moyuka Uchijima (No. 57), Leylah Fernandez (No. 35), and young star Diana Shnaider (No. 16). Zheng is among the best servers on tour, though her biggest vulnerability arises when her first serve falters—a recurring factor in her recent defeats. Kenin, with her aggressive returns, could exploit this weakness.

Kenin’s recent form has been unpredictable, needing a wildcard to enter the main draw in Tokyo. Until the tournament’s start, she held a poor 10-24 record, facing frequent early-round losses and ranked only No. 155. However, when the former Australian Open champion finds her rhythm, she has the potential to be in the top ranks. This week, she defeated players like Xinyu Wang (No. 39), Daria Kasatkina (No. 9), and Katie Boulter (No. 33).

Kenin also experienced physical issues on Saturday during her doubles match, where she reached the semifinals with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. A right leg injury forced her to retire when the score was 2-5 against Laura Siegemund and Ena Shibahara. "The plan is to play. I’ll do everything I can for tomorrow," Kenin said after the match.