China's Zheng Qinwen celebrates her victory over Leylah Fernandez of Canada in their women's singles quarter-final match on day five of the Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 25, 2024. / CFP
China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen shook off a second-set hiccup to defeat Leylah Fernandez 6-0, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the semifinals of WTA Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, beating the former US Open finalist for a second time this month after prevailing at the Wuhan Open two weeks ago.
Zheng jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first set and continued to win the set with an ace up the tee, bagelling the Canadian 6-0.
But Zheng found herself on the back foot in the second as Fernandez won six games in a row to claim the set 6-1.
Fernandez won her first two matches against Zheng including one earlier this year at the Qatar Open, the Canadian fended off one break point but soon fell behind 3-0 to the top seed.
Zheng ended the match with a big serve to win the third set 6-3. The Chinese will next face Russia's Diana Shnaider for a spot in the final.
Zheng Qinwen of China and Leylah Fernandez of Canada shake hands at the net after the quarter-final of the WTA Pan Pacific Open at Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan, on October 25, 2024. / CFP
"I played great in the first set but in the second set, I lost a bit of my focus," the Olympic champion explained on court after the match. "She also played well in the second set. To play a match in the third set is always not easy, so I'm just happy I was able to fight until the end and get this match."