Belinda Bencic Advances to Pan Pacific Open Final in Tokyo

Belinda Bencic has reached the final of the Pan Pacific Open, marking her second final appearance at the event a decade after her first. She secured a hard-fought victory over Sofia Kenin in three sets, demonstrating resilience and tactical risk-taking under the roof of the Ariake Coliseum due to rain. Bencic will face Linda Noskova in the final, who advanced via walkover after Elena Rybakina withdrew with a back injury. Bencic has shown strong form throughout the tournament, including a notable comeback in the semi-finals against Karolina Muchova where she saved match points and overcame a significant deficit. Her performance at this event adds to an already successful season, highlighted by her Olympic gold medal and a title earlier in Abu Dhabi. Noskova, meanwhile, is seeking her second WTA title, having recently played in the China Open final, signaling a rising presence in women's tennis.