Shnaider beats Fernandez to win Pan Pacific Open and sixth straight WTA final

Tokyo: Russia's Diana Shnaider overcame a second-set collapse to beat Canada's Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday and claim the Pan Pacific Open title in Tokyo. The final lasted two hours and 18 minutes and turned into a story of Shnaider's resilience, Fernandez's fighting spirit and a few decisive moments in the third set. Shnaider eased through the first set but looked in trouble after relinquishing the second and had to defend three break points early in the decider before going on to clinch victory. The 22-year-old has now won six straight finals on the WTA tour. Shnaider said after the match, 'I want to say thanks to and congratulate my coach, who is here with me, for achieving our first title this season. It definitely means a lot, a great achievement and great finish of this season.' Her words underlined that the title was not just a tournament win but the result of a season of work with her team. The first set belonged to Shnaider. She controlled the baseline exchanges, served with purpose and forced Fernandez into longer rallies. The 6-4 scoreline reflected her early authority on the hard court in Tokyo. Fernandez won some good points but could not find a consistent answer to Shnaider's pressure. The second set was the most interesting part of the final. Shnaider's rhythm dipped, and Fernandez took advantage by extending rallies and turning defence into attack. The Canadian stayed in points longer, made Shnaider play extra shots and gradually worked her way back. Fernandez took the set 7-5 to level the match, and the final suddenly looked open. In the deciding set, Shnaider faced early pressure. She had to save three break points at the start of the third set. Had Fernandez converted even one of them, the match could have taken a very different direction. Instead, Shnaider stayed calm, used her serve to relieve pressure, played the big shots when needed and held on. She then gradually took control and closed out the third set 6-2. The victory extended Shnaider's remarkable run of six consecutive WTA finals won. Reaching finals is one achievement; winning them is another mental challenge. Shnaider has shown that she can produce her best tennis under pressure. For a 22-year-old, that is a significant sign for the future. Fernandez was playing in her second straight final after losing to world number one Elena Rybakina at the Ningbo Open last week. She had won the Singapore Open in September and has now shown that she can consistently reach the deep stages of tournaments. After the final, she said, 'I would like to congratulate Diana. Congratulations. An amazing week, a great match. Congratulations to you and your team. Hopefully we can have many more battles like this one.' For Fernandez, the loss will hurt, but her recent form is a positive sign. She won a title in Singapore, reached the Ningbo final and then played another final in Tokyo. She showed in the second set that she can fight her way back into matches. If she maintains this level, she will remain a title contender in the coming events. The Tokyo title adds another important marker to Shnaider's career. At 22, she is already winning finals consistently and finding ways to win when her game is not at its best. In this match, she showed that she is not solely dependent on attack. When the second set slipped away, she found a route back in the third. That kind of adaptability is valuable. On the technical side, Shnaider had more control in the first and third sets. Her rhythm broke in the second, but she saved the early break points in the decider and did not let her confidence drop. That was the key difference. Fernandez produced a strong comeback in the second set, but Shnaider reclaimed the initiative in the third. In tennis, such moments often decide the outcome. The Pan Pacific Open is a prestigious tournament in Tokyo, and the hard-court conditions demand quick decisions. Shnaider adapted well to the environment. She built an early lead in the first set and stayed composed under pressure in the third. That composure should help her in bigger tournaments ahead. Meanwhile, the tennis world is also watching Vienna, where Carlos Alcaraz has reached his first Vienna final. He will face Alex de Minaur after Alexander Zverev was upset. The result shows how fatigue, form and pressure can influence results late in the season. Alcaraz will be expected to play his best in the final, while de Minaur is known for his fighting qualities and ability to extend rallies. Overall, the Tokyo final gave tennis fans everything a good match should offer: a strong start, a fightback, pressure in the deciding set and a deserving winner. Shnaider proved once again that she thrives under pressure. Fernandez showed that she belongs on the big stage. And in Vienna, the Alcaraz versus de Minaur final is a reminder that the tennis season is not over yet.