Diana Shnaider will play for her sixth career title vs. Leylah Fernandez in an all-lefty Tokyo final.

Richard PagliaroOctober 31, 20262 minute read

By Richard Pagliaro | Saturday, October 31, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot

The Tokyo final will take a left-handed turn.

Diana Shnaider defeated 18-year-old wild card Mia Pohankova 6-4, 7-6(7) to advance to her first final of the season at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

The third-seeded Shnaider set up an all-lefty Tokyo final against a red-hot Leylah Fernandez.

Earlier, Fernandez swept lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova 7-5, 6-3, to reach her 11th career final.

A resurgent Fernandez has won 16 of her last 20 matches and will play for her seventh career championship tomorrow.

One round after Shnaider fought off Alexandra Eala, 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, she rose up to pass another tight test against the hard-hitting Pohankova, who had scored back-to-back wins over Naomi Osaka and Alycia Parks.

Facing a 2-4 deficit in today’s second semifinal, Shnaider dialed in her drives, amped up her aggression and reeled off five consecutive games. Shnaider won eight of the final 10 points to snatch a one-set lead.

In the second set tie break, Shnaider saved a set point at 5-6. Shnaider converted her second match point securing a spot in her seventh Tour-level final.

It is Shnaider’s first final since she collected the Monterrey title in August of 2025. Roland Garros semifinalist Shnaider will play for her sixth career title.

Shnaider carries a 3-2 career edge over 2021 US Open finalist Fernandez, including winning their last three meetings.