Hong Kong Open: Katie Boulter reaches third WTA final of year

British number one Katie Boulter came through a tough test against Chinese sixth seed Yue Yuan to win 6-2 5-7 6-2 and reach the final of the Hong Kong Open.

Boulter will play either Russian top seed Diana Shnaider or Canada’s defending champion Leylah Fernandez on Sunday as she bids for a third WTA title of the year.

The second seed, who is currently 29th in the world but will move up to at least 23rd when the rankings are next updated, is aiming to add to previous tournament victories in Nottingham and San Diego.

“I just wanted to finish my year on a career high, which is why today meant so much to me,” said Boulter, who reached her previous best ranking of 27th in March.

“I have actually done that, so I have got nothing to lose tomorrow. I am just going to swing free and enjoy it.”

Boulter, 28, edged a competitive opening set and the two players shared four breaks of serve at the start of the second before 26-year-old Yuan broke her again in the 12th game to force a deciding set.

The Briton cranked up the intensity in the opening game of the final set, clinching it with a forehand winner on her fourth break point, and stormed into a 3-0 lead after Yuan served up a double fault to gift her the double break.

Boulter then showed real grit to fend off Yuan in a marathon fourth game before closing out the set against the world number 45 with her sixth ace of the match.

Whoever she faces in the final will pose a tough test – Boulter has never played world number 14 Shnaider before, while she lost her only previous encounter against 32nd-ranked Fernandez.