Top-seeded Zheng Qinwen of China defeated Moyuka Uchijima of Japan 7-5, 6-0 in the women’s singles second-round match at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Zheng made her move first by breaking Uchimima in the third game, but the 23-year-old Japanese immediately returned the favor in the fourth. Both managed to hold their following three service games as the first set reached 5-5.
Zheng earned two quick break points in Game 11 and nailed it with a straight forehand winner to lead 6-5. She continued to attack with speed in the following 12th, setting up two game points and converting the first to lead 1-0 in the match.
Uchijima made more mistakes in the second set, allowing three breaks in the first five games. Looking at a chance of ending the battle in her service game, Zheng gave herself three match points with aggressive attacks. Though the opponent saved the first one, the Chinese favorite sealed the deal with a forehand winner.
Zheng will play No. 8 seed Leylah Fernandez of Canada in her next match. Fernandez was the U.S. Open runner-up in 2021. The two have played each other three times so far. Fernandez won two of those meetings, but Zheng beat her 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 in the third round at the Wuhan Open earlier October.
Third-seeded Daria Kasatkina of Russia came back to knock out Mccartney Kessler of the U.S. 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to progress at the tournament. No. 9 seed Katie Boulter of Britain walked over Kyoka Okamura of Japan 6-1, 6-2.