Katie Boulter surpasses Bianca Andreescu to reach Tokyo semi-finals | tennis

British number 1 Katie Boulter easily made it to the semi-finals of the WTA Pan Pacific Open by comfortably defeating Bianca Andreescu in Tokyo.

The 28-year-old recorded his third consecutive victory at the tournament, defeating the 2019 US Open champion 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour. Boulter, the tournament’s ninth seed, will face Sofia Kenin for a place in the final after the American defeated Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-4.

Boulter is currently ranked 33rd in the world following poor results in the WTA Tour’s Asian swing, losing to Coco Gauff at the China Open, qualifier Lesia Tsurenko in Wuhan and then Beatriz Haddad Maia in the round of 16 of the Ningbo Open. However, she dominated Andreescu after catching a break in the first game of the match.

After a battle for serve in the next game, Boulter broke serve again in the fifth game and closed the first set 6-2. Andreescu faltered again at the start of the second set and gave up her serve, while Boulter scored another double to take a 4-0 lead. The Canadian was beaten for the fifth and final time and remained behind 5-1, with a double fault on match point giving Boulter a comprehensive victory.

“My team and I keep pushing, we’ve worked really hard during the Asian swing and it’s starting to pay off,” Boulter told Sky Sports. “I have nothing to lose, I’m out here with a smile on my face. I’m just proud to continue giving my best until the end of the season, which I haven’t been able to do so far because of my body.”

The top seed of the tournament, Zheng Qinwenmanaged to reach the final four by going back and forth against Leylah Fernandez. The world number 7 won the first set 6-0, but Fernandez hit back in style to win the second set 6-1. Zheng regrouped, won the third set 6-3 and secured the semi-final against Diana Shnaider.

The British men’s No. 1, Jack Draper, has the chance to reach the semi-finals at the ATP Vienna Open. Draper, ranked 18th in the world, will face world number 27 Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals on Friday.