Venus Williams likes a challenge, and she certainly took one on by first competing on hardcourt in Dubai, winning the title, and then flying halfway around the world to Mexico and competing in Acapulco on clay. And winning again. And that means that the reigning Wimbledon champion has joined the Road To Bali.

The American legend put her name into the pot as a potential qualifier for the season-ending extravaganza that will be held at the Bali Convention Centre, The Westin, Nusa Dua between 4th-8th.

"I started the week very tough. I had such difficult matches," said the delighted Venus. "Three three-setters in a row, each more difficult than the last. I think I deserved this win. I played hard all week and tonight my serve and my game all came together. I loved coming to Mexico and winning my 41st title here. I hope to be back next year to defend it."

The player she beat in the final, two-time Bali quarter-finalist Flavia Pennetta felt a little stunned after her 6-1 6-2 defeat.

"What happened to me? Venus Williams is what happened to me," she said. "The number five player in the world is what happened to me! She was just playing so strong, serving so well, it was hard to fight against her power. I didn’t feel I played badly, she just overpowered me."
The Road To Bali now passes through Monterrey.

Marion Bartoli (FRA)
(Photo by Rafael Velez)

French flair might be coming to Bali, after Marion Bartoli won her first title since late 2006 to join contenders for the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, to be held at the Bali Convention Centre, Nusa Dua, November 4th-8th.

The former Wimbledon runner-up, who also reached the 2006 Bali final before conceding to Svetlana Kuznetsova, defeated China’s Li Na 6-4 6-3 at the Monterrey Open in Mexico to claim her fourth career title. Her triumph came just a day after she earned her 300th career singles victory in the semi-finals over another Chinese, Zheng Jie.

"I feel really good about how I played the whole week. I had some tough matches, not just today but also in the semifinals. They were both two sets but tough. I hit some great shots at the right moment. I'm happy about my level," said Bartoli.

"My first three titles came in 2006 when I was younger and not really expecting to win, so it's understandable why those ones were more emotional. But it's always nice to win titles, and this is a great one. Now I'm hoping to start winning bigger tournaments, and I hope I can keep playing like this in Indian Wells and Miami."

The 30-tournament series comprising The Road To Bali now takes a pause, and resumes on April 6th at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida and Marbella in Spain.

The Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions will feature top Tour players and next generation champions competing in an innovative 12 woman round robin singles format, offering $600,000 in prize money. The top 10 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players who have won at least one International 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 will feature four groups of three players in a round robin format, then a single-elimination semi-finals and final.