World number nine Marion Bartoli came to Istanbul as a replacement of Maria Sharapova in the WTA Championships and in the sole match she played there, the 5-7 6-4 6-4 victory over eventual runner-up Victoria Azarenka, the Frenchwoman debuted an outfit of her new clothing sponsor Lotto. The deal is for three years through to 2014.

"I am pleased to have signed with Lotto, an Italian brand, and although I'm Corse of 2 generations, my name is Italian in origin," said Bartoli who infamously used to be without a clothing sponsor for four years.

The first Bartoli's Lotto outfit was a white short-sleeve shirt and a red skort.

Lotto's women's tennis stars also include Francesca Schiavone and Agnieszka Radwanska. (sources: On the Baseline, Marion Bartoli Fan Blog, photo: Life.com)

Marion Bartoli needed three things to take the last spot in the season-ending WTA Championships: to win Osaka – check!, to have Agnieszka Radwanska lose before the quarterfinals in Moscow – check!, to win the Moscow title – well, it would have been too good to be true. Bartoli withdrew from her quarterfinal against Elena Vesnina citing viral infection, insuring Radwanska's qualification for Istanbul. Read more »

Because of rain, the semifinals and final at the HP Open in Osaka had to be played on the same day. The final took place "after suitable rest"of the victorios semifinalists, who were Samantha Stosur and Marion Bartoli. Later in the final, Bartoli defeated Stosur 6-3 6-1 and won the International-level title by losing more than four games only in one match!

The top-seeded Stosur beat Zheng Jie after two hours and 36 minutes, 7-6(5) 3-6 6-3. The second-seeded Bartoli saved both break points she faced and without dropping serve defeated Angelique Kerber 6-1 7-6(5) in one hour and 38 minutes. As you can see, Stosur spent one hour more on the court on Sunday than her final opponent.

Later, Bartoli defeated Stosur 6-3 6-1 without dropping serve. The loss must be a disaapointment for Stosur even more so because she won her first title at the HP Open two years ago.

Bartoli won her seventh career title and second this season, after Eastbourne. The players Frenchwoman beat en route to the trophy: Melinda Czink, Vania King, Ayumi Morita, Angelique Kerber, and finally the reigning US Open champion Stosur. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Just a day after top seed Francesca Schiavone exited the Hanson Korea Open in the first round, second-seeded Marion Bartoli fell in the second round to Vania King 6-3 7-5.

Seventeen double faults and first serve percentage of 43 marked Bartoli's game and those weaknesses handed King almost half of the points on Bartoli's serve. The world No.98 King scored her first Top 10 victory.

King's opponent in the quarterfinals of the Hansol Korea Open will be Klara Zakopalova, who upset seventh-seeded Irina-Camelia Begu 6-1 6-1. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Venus Williams denied the US Open spectators a thrilling second round match against Sabine Lisicki by pulling out with an unspecified illness which was later defined as an autoimmune disease, more specifically - Sjogren’s Syndrome, which affects energy level, causes fatigue and joint pain.

I enjoyed playing my first match here and wish I could continue, but right now I am unable to. I am thankful I finally have a diagnosis and am now focused on getting better and returning to the court soon.

The final Grand Slam of the season was Williams' only fourth tournament of the season. On top of that, she has now left two of the four with a retirement.  Read more »