Pegula books clash with Kudermetova in Tokyo final

Second seed Jessica Pegula produced a near-flawless display to power past the resurgent Maria Sakkari 6-2 6-3 on Saturday to reach the Pan Pacific Open final in Tokyo.

The 29-year-old American, gunning for her second title of the season following her triumph in Montreal, will take on Russian Veronika Kudermetova on Sunday.

Pegula made a blazing start to the contest with a couple of early breaks to peg back Sakkari, who has rediscovered her best form this month after claiming the Guadalajara title.

World number six Sakkari found her groove late in the first set after going 5-1 down, but the 28-year-old could not stop the fourth-ranked Pegula from closing it out.

The pair traded breaks early in the second set before Pegula stepped up the pressure again, firing a sizzling forehand winner en route to a 4-2 lead.

Pegula finished the job when she forced Sakkari into making a mistake from the back of the court.

"The faster courts here probably help me a little more than the slower surfaces I've played her in the past," said Pegula, who beat Sakkari for the fourth time in their ninth meeting.

Two left in Tokyo 🇯🇵

The #TorayPPO final is SET 💪 pic.twitter.com/bk5shwIwQ8

— wta (@WTA) September 30, 2023