Tennis players took part in what proved to be a very successful tennis charity event called "Hit for Haiti", which raised over $185,000 for the victims of the recent earthquake.

Women's tennis players Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Samantha Stosur joined men's tennis stars Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick.

The exhibition was organized on Roger Fereder's initiative, in less than one day, and still, the 15,000-seat Rod Laver Arena was packed.

Some players didn’t play in the exhibition, but donated the money. For example, Maria Sharapova contributed with $10,000. (source: The Canadian Press, photo via Great Tennis Photos)

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The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour interviewed Vera Zvonareva, Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic, Samantha Stosur and Svetlana Kuznetsova about their favorite place for a holiday.

Poor Samantha Stosur, she had to go to Bali instead of Hawaii.

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World No.15 Samantha Stosur has been a strong competitor on the Tour – 22 doubles titles, a bunch of Top 10 wins, career high of No.1 in doubles and No.13 in singles – still, up to this day, there were no singles titles in her résumé.

At the HP Open in Osaka Stosur finally won a singles final, on her sixth attempt, defeating Francesca Schiavone 7-5 6-1. The third-seeded Stosur grabbed the first break of the match in the last game of the first set and confidently cruised through the second set. Schiavone, who was seeded fourth in Osaka, has now fallen to 1-10 in career finals.

Stosur didn’t lose a set en route to the semifinals, where she upset top seed and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 6-0 4-6 6-4. (via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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Third seed Samantha Stosur edged defending champion and top seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-0 4-6 6-4 to advance to the HP Open final where she will face fourth seed Francesca Schiavone, who beat Sania Mirza 6-2 6-1 in the semifinals in just 59 minutes.

The world No.15 Stosur has earned her sixth shot to win her first WTA Tour singles title, and it’s not that Schiavone’s record is any better – the Italian is 1-9 in WTA Tour singles finals (her lone title came in the Gastein Ladies in 2007). However, both Stosur and Schiavone have plenty of doubles titles - Stosur has 22, Schiavone has 7.

Stosur won the last three matches played against Schiavone, all in straight sets, and two of those three came this year. (photos via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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As we’re slowly approaching the end of the 2009 season (for some players it’s already over), the first Grand Slam of the year is warming up for January’s action, by painting everything blue.

The 2010 Australian Open has released its TV commercial and the women's tennis stars featured are defending champion Serena Williams and home favorite Samantha Stosur.

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