Maria Sharapova moved within one win of capping her comeback from injury with a title by reaching the Toray Pan Pacific Open final on Friday.
Ai Sugiyama, meanwhile, ensured her career will end with a bang after securing safe passage to the same stage of the doubles competition and staving off retirement for one last day.
Former world No. 1 Sharapova overcame a sticky patch to beat Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 at Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum, leaving only Jelena Jankovic standing in the way of a first tournament win for the Russian since returning from shoulder surgery in May.