China's rising tennis star Zheng Qinwen knocked out Russian fourth seed Veronika Kudermetova 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (3) to reach her first WTA 500 final at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Saturday. 

Kudermetova, ranked 13 in the world, overturned a 4-1 Zheng lead in the first set but the Chinese 19-year-old stormed back in the three-hour thriller. 

Zheng is the second teenager to advance to the WTA 500 final or higher event this season after American Coco Gauff at Roland Garros. 

"It was a great feeling to win this match, every point I took today was very difficult and important, Kudermetova played very well in the first set, she did a great job on serve and baseline," said Zheng. "This is my first WTA 500 final, I'm really happy." 

The victory was Zheng's fifth career win over a top 20 player, all of which came this season. The teenage sensation accomplished her desire of entering the world's top 30 this season three months earlier as her live ranking skyrocketed to No. 28 from outside the top 150 this time last year. 

On Sunday Zheng will meet Russia's Liudmila Samsonova, who beat China's Zhang Shuai 7-6(4), 6-2, to pursue the most important title in her career so far. 

The 23-year-old Samsonova, who has claimed two titles in her last three tournaments, fired 13 aces and 40 winners to beat world No. 28 Zhang. 

Samsonova has 17 victories in 18 matches this season, only losing to Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia at the U.S. Open.

(With input from Xinhua)