Mariana Duque Marino won the first title of her career in Bogota, and Maria Sharapova beat all-comers in Memphis to join the Road to Bali.

Duque Marino is the proud champion of the XVIII Copa BBVA Colsanitas in her home nation of Colombia after defeating Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-4 6-3. The 20-year old was playing her first ever final, with her previous best result on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour being a quarter-final at the same event two years ago. With a ranking of 143, she is the first player ranked outside the top 100 to win a Tour title since Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions semi-finalist Kimiko Date won Osaka with a ranking of 155 late last year. Duque Marino is Colombia 's first singles champion on the Tour since Fabiola Zuluaga, who won five titles, including four in Bogotá in1999, 2002, 2003, 2004 and one in Sao Paulo in 1999.

"It was a difficult match in both sets," she said. "Playing a final is never easy for every reason - physically, mentally, so I'm proud I was able to win today. I was disappointed with how I performed here last year and I worked so hard over the last year. Coming into this season I didn't think I would win a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title so this has been incredible. I ran so much. The hard work paid off."

Meanwhile, and in contrast, Maria Sharapova was winning her 21st career singles title at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & The Cellular South Cup in Memphis by defeating Swedish qualifier Sofia Arvidsson 6-2 6-1.

The top-seeded Russian lost just 21 games in 10 sets across the week. She was playing only her second tournament of the year after falling in the first round at the Australian Open. Arvidsson, who won her olny Tour title Memphis in 2006, upset two seeds en route to the final, including No.2 seed Melanie Oudin in the quarter-finals, but Sharapova proved to be too big a hurdle.

"I feel great," said Sharapova after her victory. "I came here for matches - I got five and I got the win, so it was a good week. I served and returned well, two things that are very important indoors. I also did the right things against Sofia today. I worked hard after the Australian Open and little by little things are coming along."

Duque Marino and Sharapova both add their name to those hoping to qualify for one of only eight places available for the prestigious Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions, which takes place at the Bali International Convention Centre, The Westin Resort, Nusa Dua from 4th to 7th November. They join Auckland champion Yanina Wickmayer, Brisbane winner Kim Clijsters, Hobart champion Alona Bondarenko and Pattaya winner Vera Zvonareva as contenders.