TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) – Canada’s Leylah Fernandez extended her strong late-season run by beating Kamilla Rakhimova 7-5 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Pan Pacific Open final, where she faces Russia’s Diana Shnaider.
• The 24-year-old reached a second straight final after finishing runner-up to world number one Elena Rybakina in Ningbo last week.
• Fernandez, who advanced to the semi-finals via a walkover after Rybakina withdrew from their quarter-final, won her first title of the season in Singapore in September.
• The Canadian will bid for another trophy against third seed Shnaider, who booked her place in Sunday’s final with a 6-4 7-6(7) victory over Slovak teenager Mia Pohankova.
• “I’m proud of my mental fortitude,” Fernandez said. “These aren’t easy matches so I’m happy that I was able to find solutions and stay calm in tough moments.”
• Shnaider is chasing her first title of the season.
(Reporting by Suramya Kaushik in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
