Diana Shnaider faces eighteen-year-old Mia Pohánková in the Tokyo semifinals, following hard-fought quarterfinal victories at the WTA 500 tournament. Shnaider needed to overcome a deficit where she was just two points away from an exit against Alexandra Eala before securing a 2:6, 7:6 (5), 6:4 win, while Pohánková advanced past Alycia Parks 7:6 (3), 6:3 after erasing a break deficit in the second set.
Marathon Survivals Set Up Semifinal Clash
Shnaider’s path to the penultimate round tested her stamina on the hard courts in Tokyo. The third-seeded Russian struggled early in her quarterfinal against Eala, dropping the opening set before mounting a comeback. That match followed an unexpected three-set battle against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in her tournament opener.
Across the draw, Pohánková navigated her own tight margins against Parks. The Slovak teenager trailed by a break in the second set before fighting back to take the tiebreak 7:6 (3) and seal the second set 6:3. The victory earned Pohánková her first career WTA 500 semifinal appearance.
Historic Breakthroughs for the Slovak Teenager
Pohánková’s run in Tokyo follows a milestone victory over former world number one Naomi Osaka in the round of 16, where the eighteen-year-old triumphed 6:3, 7:5. The win over Osaka marked Pohánková’s first career triumph against a player ranked inside the TOP 20. Just a year ago, the Slovak player sat outside the TOP 600 in the WTA rankings, but consistent form—including 11 wins from her last 14 matches across all levels—has pushed her to the doorstep of the TOP 100.
It was a really, really tough match. The opponent put a lot of pressure on me, fought for every ball, and I tried to fight with all my heart too,
Pohánková told tournament broadcasters on court after defeating Parks. I am very happy that I managed to win in the end. Here in Tokyo, I feel really very good.
Career Experience Favors the Third Seed
Saturday’s encounter will mark the first career meeting between Shnaider and Pohánková. Shnaider brings superior tour-level experience to the court. The Russian has contested six WTA finals during her career, though she is currently seeking her first title match since capturing a runner-up finish in Monterrey in August 2025. Shnaider’s career-high ranking is 11th, achieved in May 2025, while her current standing sits at 13th.
Shnaider’s recent record in Tokyo includes reaching the semifinals in 2024 via a walkover and a bye, though she has won only two main-draw matches at the venue prior to this week. Analysts point to her six career finals as an edge against an opponent playing in her first WTA 500 semifinal.
Other Semifinalists and Tournament Schedule
The winner of the Shnaider-Pohánková contest will advance to the championship match. In the opposite half of the Tokyo draw, Kamilla Rakhimova meets Leylah Fernandez in the second semifinal. Rakhimova earned her spot by defeating Maya Joint 7:5, 5:7, 6:1, while Fernandez advanced without hitting a ball after top-seeded Jelena Rybakina withdrew prior to their quarterfinal due to a neck injury. Rybakina announced her withdrawal on site, thanking fans before heading to preparation for the WTA Finals in Indian Wells.
 "Photo: Aktuality")
Pohánková requires a victory to officially secure her debut inside the TOP 100 rankings.
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