Osaka, Japan (SportsNetwork.com) - Samantha Stosur secured her second WTA title of the season with a three-set victory over Eugenie Bouchard Sunday in the final at the Japan Women's Open.
Stosur, who won this title in 2009 and was the runner-up in 2011, dropped the first set to Bouchard, but bounced back to notch a 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory.
"I love playing here," said Stosur in an on-court interview after the match. "I love the site and the fans are great. I always feel like I have lots and lots of support when I come to Osaka."
The third-seeded Aussie claimed her fifth career title. Her previous victory this year came at the U.S. Open tune-up at Carlsbad in August. She improved to 1-1 against Bouchard, who was making her first career appearance in a final.
Bouchard's best previous results had come this year when she lost in the semifinals at Strasbourg in May and also at Quebec City in September.
The 19-year-old Canadian was closing in on her first title after taking the first set. She was a point away from a 6-5 lead in the second, but Stosur won seven of the next eight points to even the match.
After Bouchard held to start the third, Stosur won straight games to take control.
"Eugenie was playing really well today," Stosur added. "I just had to stick it out in the second set, and I'm pretty happy with how things went in the third."
Stosur, who then lost in the doubles final with Zhang Shuai, collected a first prize of $40,000.
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