Shnaider beats Fernandez to win Tokyo title

TOKYO: Russia's Diana Shnaider claimed her first title of the year with a hard-fought victory over Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the Pan Pacific Open final. The 23-year-old Fernandez, ranked 23rd in the world, defeated Shnaider, currently ranked 13th, in three sets with a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2. Shnaider, who had won the first set and a 4-0 lead in the second, regained control to secure the title and add to her impressive tally of six career victories.

This win marked Shnaider's first title since Monterrey in August last year. Fernandez, who had been in impressive form with 16 consecutive wins prior to the final, struggled with her serve, double-faulting five times. However, she managed to turn things around in the second set, hitting tenacious tennis to level the score at one set each.

Shnaider showed great composure in the final set, breaking Fernandez twice to serve for the match at 5-2 and ultimately clinching the victory on her first match point.