Tennis: Stosur, Bartoli vie for Istanbul chance

Stosur had been desperate to sneak into season-ending WTA championship but missed out on the elite top-eight line-up

MOSCOW: Samantha Stosur and Marion Bartoli said they will be looking to sneak into a potential backdoor slot for the $4.9 million WTA Championships in Istanbul later this month. Stosur had been desperate to sneak into the season-ending WTA championship but missed out on the elite top-eight line-up after losing early to Julia Goerges in Beijing. That defeat allowed China’s Li Na to claim the final spot in the money-spinning tournament, leaving 28-year-old Stosur dependent on an injury withdrawal if she is to extend her season. “This year I’m definitely coming into this tournament hoping to do well,” said the 28-year-old. “Me and Marion will watch each other’s performance closely, both hoping to finish as the first substitute in Istanbul.” Second-seeded Bartoli is keen to move up from her current ranking of 10th. “I’ll try to finish ninth (in the rankings) after the Kremlin Cup,” the 28-year-old said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 16^th, 2012.