Zheng hit 16 aces as she took the victory in an hour and 52 minutes under a closed roof after heavy rain interrupted the first set. She also won the Palermo Ladies Open and became the first Chinese player to win an Olympic singles tennis gold when she triumphed in Paris.

She also finished runner-up in Wuhan and at the Australian Open.

2020 Australian Open champion Kenin played the final with heavy strapping on her upper leg after retiring from her doubles semi-final on Saturday with a leg injury.

China's Zheng Qinwen, known as #Queenwen, claimed the #PanPacificOpen championship, after defeating former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in Tokyo on Sunday. This marks her first career title at this tournament. pic.twitter.com/guiuGW2c4E

— Chan Joe (@ChanJoe18) October 27, 2024

Neither player was allowed to get into a rhythm early in the match as rain twice brought play to a halt in Tokyo. The roof was eventually closed and Zheng edged ahead with the slimmest of margins to take the first set in a tiebreak. She took early control of the second set and closed it out when Kenin hit a return long.

After the match, the 22-year-old Zheng was full of praise for her competitor. “I want to say congratulations to you. You did a great job, I saw you were taped up and played even though you were hurt, I know this feeling. You fought so hard on the court,” she said.

Zheng’s win ensured her a first hard-court title since her Zhengzhou Open win last year and will give her a boost in confidence ahead of next month’s season-ending WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.

OFM Sport/Ilse Smalberger cg