ROAD TO BALI: Career first title gives Stosur berth in Bali

Samantha Stosur won the first title of her 10-year career by beating Francesca Schiavone to win the HP Open in Osaka, at the same time qualifying for a place in the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.

The Australian had lost all five of her previous finals, in Los Angeles this year, Seoul in 2008, Prague in 2006 and Gold Coast and Sydney in 2005. But with her 7-5, 6-1 victory she became the first Australian to win a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title since Alicia Molik beat her in the 2005 Sydney final.

"I'm very, very pleased to win my first title after losing five previous finals," said Stosur. "It has been a personal goal for a while, so I am glad to have achieved that, and it's the perfect way to finish my year in singles. My next goal is to reach the top 10 for which I would need to play like today every day."

Of course, despite what she said it may not be the end of her year in singles. Although she has qualified to play doubles at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha with partner Rennae Stubbs, Stosur has the option of also playing the following week at the Tournament of Champions in Bali.

As well as Yanina Wickmayer and Anabel Medina Garrigues who were recently confirmed as entrants, the US$600,000 event will also feature former Wimbledon and Bali finalist Marion Bartoli, the Frenchwoman who famously defeated former world No. 1 Justine Henin to reach the final at the All England Club in 2007. Bartoli made the finals in Bali in 2006. This year she qualified for the Tournament of Champions by winning the International series tournament in Monterrey, before adding a win at Stanford later in the year.

With just Luxembourg to be played, the battle for the remaining places at the Tournament of Champions reaches a climax this week.

The top 10 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players who have won at least one International Series tournament during the year and who are not participating in singles at the year-end Sony Ericsson Championships will qualify for the event, along with two wild cards.

The 12-woman event, which runs from Nov. 4 to 8 at the Westin Resort in Nusa Dua, will feature four groups of three players in a round-robin format, then single-elimination semifinals and final.