Seeds advance in Tokyo in WTA spint to year-end finals

Three WTA Tokyo seeds scored Thursday wins as the race to the year-end finals in Cancun tightens during the autumn Asian swing.

Greek Maria Sakkari,seeded fourth, joined No. 5 Caroline Garcia of France and sixth-seeded Daria Kasatkina in advancing as all three work towards one of eight places in Mexico next month.

Sakkari wrapped up the career of Japan’s 32-year-old Misaki Doi, with a 6-3, 6-1 result in 65 minutes.

“It was an honour to play against Misaki in her last ever professional match.

“You deserve to enjoy life, enjoy yourself, have some fun. We know how tough the tennis life is,” she told her retiring opponent.

.”So take some time, and I’m sure you’ll find a way to find something special again in your life. You had an amazing career, so congrats.”

She now faces a quarter-final against Garcia at the event where top seed Iga Swiatek is playing her first event since the US Open.

Garcia beat Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-3 with 29 winners while former Roland Garros semi-finalist Kasatkina  overcame No. 220 Greek qualifier Despina Papamichail to advance 6-4, 6-4 in two hours.

Main photo:- 4th seed Maria Sakkari