Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez upset top seed Caroline Wozniacki 7-5 6-4 to win the Collector Swedish Open title in Bastad. It was her second success at an International Series event after her triumph earlier this year in Bogota, and the win establishes the Spaniard as a leading contender for the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.
On her way to the final, she claimed victories over fourth seed Kaia Kanepi and seventh seed Carla Suarez Navarro, before spoiling the 19th birthday celebrations of her Danish opponent. It was a closely-contested battle, with Martinez Sanchez having to fight back from 1-4 in the second set before she clinched her victory. The win over ninth-ranked Wozniacki was the second of her career over a top-10 opponent, after she beat Nadia Petrova in Rome in May.
""I'm very happy about my win today and how I played. It was really windy today but I think that helped me, because I like to serve and volley and Caroline played more from the baseline," said Martínez Sánchez, who also reached the doubles final. "I'm really proud I was able to beat the No.9 player in the world. It was a great week for me. My win in Bogota and my win here are the best moments of my career. When I came here I wasn't thinking if I could win or not, but I was trying to do my best. I felt bad for Caroline because she wanted to win on her birthday. I can't give her the title, but I'll buy her dinner!"
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. In addition, an incredible $1 million bonus will be paid to any player that can win three of the 30 International Series events, and the Tournament of Champions.
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.
Matches will take place at the Bali Convention Centre, The Westin, Nusa Dua, Bali, from 4th to 8th November.
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