Preview of Pan Pacific Open Semi-Finals: Zheng takes on Shnaider while Kenin battles Boulter

The Pan Pacific Open semifinals will take place on Saturday, October 26, with home favorite Zheng Qinwen leading the charge, though all contenders have the credentials to reach the final. China’s Zheng will face young star Diana Shnaider, who has quietly climbed into the top 15 this season, thanks to strong results and consistent play.

In the second semifinal, Sofia Kenin continues her quest to regain top form. The former Australian Open champion is in her first semifinal of the season and will face Katie Boulter, the British player in stellar form who has already won two titles this year.

Zheng Qinwen enters as the top seed and favorite, riding a stellar late-season surge. Since Wimbledon, she’s secured 26 wins in her last 30 matches, claiming the Palermo Open title and a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, alongside runner-up finishes at the Wuhan Open and a semifinal spot in Beijing.

Zheng had a dominant start against Leylah Fernandez in the quarterfinals, though her performance dipped in the second set. She ultimately secured a tough victory, 6-0, 1-6, 6-3, setting up a clash with Shnaider, one of this season’s rising stars. Shnaider’s consistency has propelled her into the top 15 for the first time, effective next Monday. This marks her eighth tournament semifinal of the season, her second at the WTA 500 level.

Shnaider benefited from a couple of last-minute withdrawals, earning a top-four seed and a first-round bye. After a straightforward win over Viktoriya Tomova (6-2, 6-2), she advanced to the semifinals without playing in the quarterfinals, due to a withdrawal from local favorite Saayka Ishii. Shnaider arrives at the semifinals with just over an hour of court time, which may be a disadvantage against Zheng, who has played the most matches among the top 20 in recent months.

Katie Boulter has solidified her position in the top ranks this season. The Brit has posted strong results all year, with titles at the San Diego Open and Nottingham, propelling her into the top 50 for the first time in her career.

The 28-year-old now enjoys a higher status on the Tour and reaches another WTA 500 semifinal, with recent wins over opponents like Priscilla Hon and Bianca Andreescu in the quarterfinals. The ninth seed has been particularly efficient this week, converting 15 out of 17 break points and dismantling Andreescu 6-2, 6-1.

On the other side, the 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has shown flashes of her peak tennis throughout the season, though it hasn’t been enough for deep runs in most tournaments. This week, however, she seems to be returning to the level that once took her to the top 5, with wins over Xinyu Wang, Clara Tauson and Daria Kasatkina. The American will be looking to play her first final in over a year.