Former World No 1 Ana Ivanovic brushed aside Caroline Wozniacki to win the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo on Sunday and move closer to sealing a berth for the season-ending WTA finals in Singapore.
The 6-2, 7-6 (2) win in the $1 million tournament also gave the Serb her fourth WTA title of the year and the 26-year-old is projected to move from the eighth spot to fifth in the race for Singapore.
After trading early break of serves, third seed Ivanovic breezed through the first set against the former world number one Danish, who won the tournament in 2010.
Wozniacki, the finalist at this year's US Open, fought back to take a lead early and was up 3-1 in the second set but Ivanovic regained momentum and won five of the next eight games to force a tie-breaker, which she completely dominated.
"Caroline played a great match today," Ivanovic said after her win. "It was a really good battle out there -- there were some very tough moments, especially in the second set.
"But I just tried to take it one point at a time, and I'm really happy to make it through. It's just an amazing feeling to win this title."
Injury ends Victoria Azarenka's season
Victoria Azarenka will miss rest of the tennis season as she tries to make a full recovery from injuries that plagued her year, the former World No 1 said on Sunday.
The two-time grand slam champion withdrew from this week's Wuhan Open in China with a foot injury and later announced she would be out of action for the remainder of the season.
"Unfortunately I will not be competing in any tournaments for the remainder of the season," the 25-year-old Belarusian said in a message on her Facebook page. "It has been a very tough year for me.
"I have been trying my best to improve day in and day out by pushing and pushing... but that does not appear to be the best approach for me right now.
"I will use this time to work on making a full recovery and take care of my body to compete at my best next season."
Azarenka, the Australian Open champion in 2012 and 2013, has struggled the whole year with foot and knee troubles and missed numerous tournaments, which has seen her singles ranking plummet to 25 in the world.
Emotional Li Na says has no regrets over retirement
A teary-eyed Li Na said on Sunday she has no regrets about her retirement and the Chinese trailblazer was confident her country will produce more grand slam winners in future.
In a letter posted on her Facebook page, the 32-year-old Li, Asia's only grand slam singles champion, announced her retirement on Friday, succumbing to her chronic knee injuries.
The former French Open winner and the reigning Australian Open champion said she had given her best during her career and that was what mattered to her.
"I'm very happy with my whole career and feel very proud. Now is the perfect time to walk away. I don't have any regrets," Li told reporters.
"After I made the decision I asked myself several times, 'will I regret it in the future?' But another voice told me, 'no', and I tried my best on court, so I won't regret it."
Li, known affectionately as 'Big Sister Na' and 'Golden Flower' in China, skipped this year's US Open, triggering speculation her dazzling career was drawing to a close.
For many youngsters in China, she is a role model, with her steely determination, broad smile and English language skills emblematic of a confident and rising country.
Li said tennis in China has undergone vast change since she started and predicted more grand slam champions from her country.
"I've always watched the development of Chinese tennis closely. The young girls now have chances to come into contact with the world's top players face to face, and have a bright future," she said.
"In terms of successors, there's no comparison, everyone has their own features. I believe they'll work hard for their dreams.
"Keep an eye out - they'll be coming. Maybe even better than me," said Li, who wants to do her part by opening tennis school in the future.
Kuhoo-Arjun win Belgian Open Junior Badminton C'ship
Talented Indian pair of Kuhoo Garg and MR Arjun won the mixed doubles event at the Yonex Belgian Junior International Badminton Tournament in Hertsal on Sunday.
The Indian pair defeated top seeded German pair of Bjarne Geiss & Li Yvonne in the finals by 11-7, 11-7, 11-10 margin.
This is the first international title of their career abroad.
En route the final, the Indian junior pair defeated Turkish pair Mohammed Ali Kurt & Kader Inal, German & Belgium combination of Simon Reinhardt & Lotte Derudder, Polish pair Pawel Smilowski & Magdalena Swierczynska and Scottish combination of Adam Hall & Julie Mc Pherson.
