Th third-seeded Daria Kasatkina (Russia) advanced to the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis in Tokyo, Japan, after dramatic comeback against McCartney Kessler (USA). The Russian tennis player prevailed after 2-1 (3:6, 6:3, 6:1) in a match that lasted almost 2 hours.
Daria Kasatkina started hesitantly the match and allowed her opponent to achieve a break for 3:1 and thus to take the led in the first set. The Russian tennis player returned the break in the seventh game, but McCartney Kessler broke again in the next game and kept her lead of 5:3. The American player did not had problems in her serve to close the set at 6:3.
The second set started equally with both players winning their serve games. Daria Kasatkina took a lead after a break by 4:1. Both exchanged a break in the 7th and 8th game and the Russian player closed the set at 6:3.
Daria Kasatkina controlled the match in the decisive third set after two break at the start and leading by 3:0. McCartney Kessler returned one of the breaks immediately for 3:1, Daria Kasatkina won the next three games in a row with two more breaks and closed the set at 6:1 and the match.
In the quarter-finals, Daria Kasatkina will face Sofia Kenin (USA), who also had a tough match versus Danish talent Clara Tauson. The American won by 2-1 (6:7, 6:4, 7:6).
