tennis

Diyas beats defending champion McHale at Japan Women's Open

Published Sep. 16, 2017 10:03 a.m. ET

TOKYO (AP) Qualifier Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan outlasted defending champion Christina McHale 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 Saturday to advance to the final of the Japan Women's Open.

Diyas was down 3-1 in the final set but broke the 25-year-old American twice to complete the victory and secure her second WTA final.

''It was a very tough match today,'' Diyas said. ''Christina played really well and I had to work for every point, but I am happy with my game and I think I played really well.''

Diyas had previously beaten eighth-seeded Yulia Putintseva and second-seeded Zhang Shuhai before facing McHale in the last four.

Diyas, a finalist here in 2014, will face Japan's Miyu Kato in Sunday's final. Kato beat Croatia's Jana Fett 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4.

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