Katie Boulter Falls to Sofia Kenin in Tokyo Semi-Finals
In a tightly contested match, Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, broke Boulter’s serve in both the fifth and seventh games of the first set. Although Boulter managed to break back and save three set points, Kenin ultimately served out the set on her second attempt.
Katie Boulter’s impressive run at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo came to a disappointing halt on Saturday as she was defeated in straight sets by Sofia Kenin. The British No. 1 lost 6-4, 6-4, missing the opportunity to reach her third WTA Tour final of the year.
In a tightly contested match, Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, broke Boulter’s serve in both the fifth and seventh games of the first set. Although Boulter managed to break back and save three set points, Kenin ultimately served out the set on her second attempt.
Boulter struggled to capitalize on her chances in the second set, failing to convert any of her four break points during the sixth game. This inability to seize opportunities allowed Kenin to break her in the next game, after which the American held her composure to secure the match in just one hour and 29 minutes.
Kenin now advances to face China’s Zheng Qinwen in Sunday’s final. Zheng, the top seed and Olympic champion, reached the final after defeating Diana Shnaider 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the second semi-final. Zheng took an early lead in the first set, going up 4-0 with two quick breaks. However, Shnaider mounted a comeback, winning three consecutive games to close the gap to 4-3. The set was fiercely contested, but Zheng prevailed in the tie-break, taking it 7-5.
In the second set, Zheng initially struggled with her first-serve percentage, allowing Shnaider to break for a 2-1 lead. Nevertheless, Zheng responded promptly, breaking back and then securing another break to establish a 4-2 advantage, which she maintained to close out the match.
Meanwhile, in Austria, Jack Draper is set to compete against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti for a place in the Vienna Open final. The winner of that match will face either Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur, who are also battling in the second semi-final.
Boulter’s semi-final defeat marks the end of her campaign in Tokyo, but her performance throughout the tournament demonstrates her potential as she looks to build on her success in future competitions.
