TOKYO: Zheng Qinwen saw off a spirited challenge from Diana Shnaider to secure a hardfought 7-6(5), 6-3 win in their Pan Pacific Open semi-final on Saturday and set up a title clash against American Sofia Kenin.

Zheng sealed a spot in the final in Tokyo for a second time in her career, where she will be looking to make amends for her 2022 defeat to Liudmila Samsonova.

The Olympic champion wasted little time in the semi-final, breaking twice in quick succession to race into a 4-0 lead and put Shnaider on the backfoot, but a drop in Zheng`s level gave the Russian an opportunity to claw her way back into the contest.

Shnaider won three straight games to leave the opening set at 4-3, before defending three set points to hold under pressure for 5-4 and then saving another to break Zheng`s serve for a second time and level at 5-5.

Zheng recovered to force a tiebreak, where the 22-year-old won three consecutive points to take the opening set.

Early in the second set, Zheng`s first-serve percentage plummeted and Shnaider broke for 2-1, but the top seed broke right back and again for a 4-2 lead which she would not relinquish.

`It was not an easy match. Especially because I was way forward with a lot of set points, and then the end of the set, in the tiebreaker, it was not easy,` Zheng said.

`I`m just happy I`m always there [in the match].

It doesn`t matter what happens today on court. I`m happy to be back in the final again because I was here two years ago.

Earlier, 2020 Australian Open champion Kenin eased past British number one Katie Boulter 6-4, 6-4 in just under 90 minutes to reach her first singles final since San Diego last year.

Kenin, 25, also finished runner-up at the French Open in 2020 and reached a career-high number four that season, before injuries, illness and offcourt issues saw her drop down the rankings.

`I think she`s a really good player and she has a good ground stroke and she has some great drop shots,` Zheng said of Kenin.

`Of course, if she`s in the final, it means she`s really tough to beat in this tournament. I`m just going to try my best tomorrow and let`s see what happens.`-Reuters