Canada’s in-form Leylah Fernandez reaches Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo
Fernandez fought back from a break down in both sets to reach the Tokyo title clash, her third final of 2026.
Leylah Fernandez, the world number 23 tennis player from Canada, expressed her gratitude for her "mental fortitude" after securing a spot in the Pan Pacific Open final against Russia's Diana Shnaider. The victory was achieved by defeating Uzbekistan's Kamilla Rakhimova in a match with scores of 7-5, 6-3.
Fernandez's success in the Asian swing can be attributed to her willingness to work hard and maintain her calm under pressure. The 24-year-old, a US Open finalist in 2021, said, "I'm proud of my mental fortitude. These aren't easy matches, so I'm happy that I was able to find solutions and stay calm in tough moments."
Her journey to the final was not without challenges. Fernandez reached the semi-finals when Rybakina withdrew from their match due to a neck injury, just a day after securing the world number one ranking. Despite the loss, Fernandez and her team decided to play as many matches as possible following the US Open in September, where she lost in the third round.
Shnaider, the 13th-ranked player, is seeking her first title of the year after defeating former junior Wimbledon champion Pohankova. She acknowledged the importance of the work ethic, stating, "The work never stops. Yesterday was a very tough match, and today I was happy that I managed to push myself again."
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- In-form Fernandez sets up Tokyo final against Russia’s Shnaider freemalaysiatoday.com
- Canada’s Fernandez beats Uzbekistan’s Rakhimova to reach final in Japan winnipegfreepress.com
