Sofia Kenin Defeats Katie Boulter in Tokyo

British number one Katie Boulter was defeated by American Sofia Kenin in the semi-finals of the Pan Pacific Open, losing in straight sets 6-4, 6-4. Boulter aimed for her third title of the year but struggled to convert break points, particularly in the second set where she faced four break opportunities but failed to capitalize. Kenin, the 2020 Australian Open champion, successfully saved crucial points and broke Boulter's serve, securing her spot in the final after one hour and thirty minutes of play. This victory marks Kenin's first final appearance since San Diego last year, and she will face either top seed Zheng Qinwen or sixth seed Diana Shnaider in the final. Boulter had shown strong form earlier in the tournament, including a notable win over Bianca Andreescu, but fell short against Kenin. The match highlighted both players' contrasting seasons, with Kenin gaining momentum later in the year.