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SCMP Sport

Former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has advanced to the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo with a 6-4, 6-4 win over ninth-seeded Katie Boulter on Saturday.
However, Kenin’s place in Sunday’s final – against Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen – is in doubt after she retired with a leg injury when she went back out on court to play her doubles semi-final with partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They were down 5-2 in the first set when Kenin pulled up.
Her participation in next week’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open could also now be in question.
Kenin, who won the Australian Open in 2020 and was a French Open finalist the same year, said she hurt herself towards the end of her match against Boulter but would do her “best to get ready for tomorrow”.
“The plan is to play,” said the American. “I’ll do everything I can for tomorrow.”
Kenin was visibly distressed as she received treatment for her injury in her doubles match, and later reappeared with ice strapped to her upper leg.

“It was a long rally and she hit a backhand down the line pretty flat,” she said of the incident in her match against Boulter.
“I tried to go for it and then I felt something and after that I was trying to somehow get through it.
“I’m not going to lie, if it had been a few more games, I don’t know what would have happened.”
No 1 seed Zheng beat Diana Shnaider – who will be top seed in Hong Kong – 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the other semi-final.
The 25-year-old Kenin was ranked as high as No 4 early in 2020, but a series of injuries, including ankle and quadricep ailments, has seen her WTA ranking drop to its current 155.
Boulter, ranked 33rd, had not lost a set during the Tokyo hard-court tournament.
Kenin beat Boulter in the only other time they have played but it was when Boulter retired with an injury in the second set while trailing 4-1 to Kenin after losing the first set in Acapulco in 2019.
And the pair look set to renew their rivalry in the city next week after being drawn on Saturday into the bottom half of next week’s Hong Kong Open.
Kenin will play a qualifier in the opening round while tournament second seed Boulter will take on Aoi Ito for a place in the round of 16.
Russia’s Shnaider and China’s Wang Xiyu were among five others to be drawn against qualifiers, their identities to be decided after Sunday’s second qualifying round.
Reigning champion and No 3 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada, will in the first round face British player Heather Watson, against whom she has a 0-3 record.
Two-time grand slam winner Simona Halep, who played in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 earlier this month, has No 6 seed Yuan Yue of China in her way.

The hosts are represented by Eudice Chong and Cody Wong Hong-yi in the round of 32. Wong will take on No 8 seed Cristina Bucsa of Spain while Chong will play Australia Priscilla Hon, after meeting at the same stage last year, with the Hongkonger losing 7-5, 7-5.
On the courts on Saturday, 11 of the 12 seeded players in the qualifying draw, including top seed qualifier Gao Xinyu, and her fellow Chinese Lu Jiajing and Shi Han, all advanced to the next round.
No 2 qualifying seed Ma Yexin of China was the exception, losing 6-3, 6-2 to Japan’s Makoto Ninomiya.
None of Hong Kong’s five qualifying-round players survived, all losing in straight sets.
The 12 winners from the first qualifying round will compete for six spots in the main draw: the pick of the ties sees Gao playing Carol Zhao of Canada, while No 3 seed Jang Su-jeong of South Korea will face Japanese Kyoka Okamura.


Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open: Shnaider blitzes Boulter to claim title in one-sided final

Hong Kong Open: Shnaider dumps defending champ Fernandez out, to face Boulter in final

Hong Kong Open: China’s Yuan ends Kenin’s late-season surge, Fernandez into final four

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open: rejuvenated major champ Sofia Kenin on Victoria Park roll

WTA (Women's Tennis Association)

Hong Kong Open: Sofia Kenin could be in doubt after picking up injury in Tokyo semi-final

American Sofia Kenin picked up an injury in her semi-final win over Britain’s Katie Boulter but went on to play in the doubles semi-final, where she retired hurt. Photo: AFP

Russia’s Diana Shnaider, top seed for Hong Kong, lost to China’s Zheng Qinwen in a Tokyo semi-final. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong’s Che Sin-yu lost 6-1, 6-1 to South Korea’s Jang Su-jeong in the first round of qualifiers. Photo: Edmond So

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open: Lulu Sun explains her Chinese heritage before city debut

The half-Chinese Lulu Sun says competing in Hong Kong will feel like playing in her “second home”. Photo: Handout

Lulu Sun beating China’s Zhu Lin in the third round of Wimbledon this year. Photo: AP

Lulu Sun expects to see some familiar faces in the stands at the Hong Kong Open next week. Photo: Handout

Emma Raducanu latest player to pull out of Hong Kong Open, replaced by Sofia Kenin

Emma Raducanu will not be playing in the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: AP

Sofia Kenin has been added to the main draw for this month’s WTA 250 event in Causeway Bay. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong can’t host top-level tennis unless it revamps Victoria Park: sport’s local chief

The Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 takes place at Victoria Park last week. Photo: May Tse

Leylah Fernandez lifts her trophy after winning last year’s Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open. Photo: AFP

Simona Halep, pictured at an autograph session, expressed a positive view of Victoria Park. Photo: HKCTA

Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125: Australia’s Tomljanovic overcomes Tauson in final

Ajla Tomljanovic with the trophy after the Hong Kong 125 final on Sunday. Photo: HKCTA

Monica Niculescu and Elena-Gabriela Ruse during the doubles final. Photo: HKCTA

Hong Kong Tennis 125: city debutants Emma Navarro, Simona Halep excited for local delights

Two-time grand slam winner Simona Halep will play her first tournament in more than four months at the Hong Kong Tennis 125 event at Victoria Park, Causeway Bay this week. Photo: May Tse

Emma Navarro is using the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis 125 to warm up for the Wuhan Open. Photo: Mike Chan

Sport

Hong Kong

Tennis

The American won her semi against Briton Katie Boulter, with both likely to meet again in Hong Kong, where No 1 Shnaider will face a qualifier


The American won her semi against Briton Katie Boulter, with both likely to meet again in Hong Kong, where No 1 Shnaider will face a qualifier.


Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open