Shnaider survives Fernandez fightback to win Tokyo title

Diana Shnaider is a champion again. The 22-year-old Russian beat Leylah Fernandez 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in Sunday's final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, claiming her first title of 2026 and the sixth of her career after more than two hours on court.

It was a final that looked over midway through, then turned into a genuine contest. Shnaider had to dig deep to close it out.

From 6-4, 4-0 to a deciding set

Shnaider, the No. 3 seed, made a commanding start. She took the opening set 6-4 and raced to a 4-0 lead in the second, seemingly on course for a quick finish. Fernandez had other ideas. The Canadian won seven of the next eight games to take the second set 7-5 and level the match, according to the WTA.

The momentum could easily have stayed with Fernandez. At 1-1 in the third set she earned three break points on Shnaider's serve, but the Russian saved all three. After an exchange of holds, Shnaider broke in the fifth game and then reeled off the final three games to seal the title. The WTA timed the match at 2 hours and 18 minutes.

Canadian broadcaster TSN highlighted the serving gap in the final. Shnaider served no double faults and hit two aces, while Fernandez was hurt by five double faults.

A first trophy of the season

For Shnaider, the title ends a wait that stretched across almost the entire 2026 season. The left-hander came through a tight semi-final against Mia Pohanková, winning 6-4, 7-6(7), before holding her nerve in the final. Her sixth career trophy arrives late in the year but gives her a strong finish heading into the final weeks of the WTA calendar.

The week in Tokyo had already been eventful at the top. World No. 1 Elena Rybakina clinched the year-end top spot during the tournament before withdrawing from her quarter-final with a neck injury.

ATPEala wins nine straight games to beat Gibson and reach Tokyo quarters

The doubles final also had a Canadian interest. According to TSN, Gabriela Dabrowski and her Brazilian partner Luisa Stefani were scheduled to meet the Italian pair Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini for the doubles title on Sunday, giving Canada a second shot at silverware in Tokyo.

Another final, another near miss for Fernandez

Fernandez will rue the missed chances early in the third set. The Canadian had reached the final by beating Kamilla Rakhimova 7-5, 6-3 in the semi-finals, her third final of 2026, and her second-set comeback underlined her fighting qualities once again.

This time, though, it was not enough against an opponent who stayed composed when the match was slipping away from her. Shnaider leaves Tokyo with the trophy, while Fernandez's attention now turns to the remaining events on the calendar, with the WTA tour moving on to Chennai and Hong Kong next week.