Tennis News: Liudmila Samsonova wins Tokyo Open after defeating Zheng Qinwen

It marks Samsonova's 18th win in her last 19 matches and will climb up to a higher rank just outside the top 20 on Monday. She has won three tournaments in that period, including back-to-back titles in Washington DC and Cleveland. 

She won matches against Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, Garbiñe Muguruza, Zhang Shuai, Wang Xinyu and Zheng. The opening set awarded equal opportunities for both sides until Zheng squandered a service point at deuce, giving Samsonova her first break point opportunity. 

Samsonova then won the next game to pocket the first set with 14 winners against Zheng's 11. The Russian broke again in the second set to lead 3-2, but her glory was shortlived as her opponent equalised the score in the next game. 

Samsonova made another effort and converted a breakpoint that helped her win the second set. 

"It was a really tough match because huge congrats to Qinwen and her team because she's playing amazing. Seriously, congrats guys." Nine aces backed up Zheng's performance, but Samsonova was stronger at the baseline. 

Despite her loss, Zheng experienced a breakthrough week in Tokyo and became the first Chinese player to enter a WTA singles final. On Monday, Zheng will become the first Chinese teenager to crack the Top 30.

Emma Raducanu pulls out due to injury at the Seoul Open

Emma Raducanu retired at the semi-final of the Seoul Open, allowing her opponent Jelena Ostapenko a walkover to the summit clash. The British had won the first set 6-4 before taking a medical time-out in the second set. 

She conceded the second set 6-3, and Ostapenko was carving a path to victory at 3-0 in the third when Raducanu decided to retire with a glute injury. 

Raducanu had won the first set 6-4 before a medical time-out in the second set, which she then lost 6-3. Ostapenko was then leading 3-0 in the third with a double break before Raducanu retired with a glute injury.

It marks Raducanu's fourth retirement of the year. The first time arrived during the US Open this year during her bid to defend the title. As a result, she has now slipped to 77th in the world rankings. 

Her previous form helped her climb as high as 10th, and a potential win in Korea could have brought her back to the top 50 at least. Raducanu was also attempting to enter her first final in a regular WTA Tour event after the US Open last year.

Ostapenko will now face Ekaterina Alexandrova in the final match of the title.