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. Diyas, a finalist here in 2014, will face Miyu Kato in Sunday's final after she saved match point in the second semifinal to beat Croatia's Jana Fett 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4. Diyas had previously beaten eighth-seeded Yulia Putintseva and second-seeded Zhang Shuhai before facing McHale in the last four.
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