Tennis-Fernandez sets up Pan Pacific Open title clash with Shnaider

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)

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