AFP, Tokyo :
Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova won her third title in four tournaments by beating China’s Zheng Qinwen 7-5, 7-5 in the final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday.
The red-hot world number 30 triumphed in Washington and Cleveland in August and she produced a string of giant-killing upsets in the Japanese capital on the way to another title.
Samsonova beat Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina and two-time Grand Slam winner Garbine Muguruza and did not drop a set all week.
Fast-rising teenager Zheng was appearing in her first WTA final after knocking out top seed Paula Badosa in the second round.
The 19-year-old went toe to toe with Samsonova in a tight match but had her service broken late in the first set to let the Russian take control.
