Chang knocks off top-seed Stosur to advance to Japan Women's Open final

OSAKA — Unseeded Chang Kai-chen of Taiwan upset Australian No.1 seed Samantha Stosur 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) to reach the final of the Japan Women's Open on Saturday.

Chang was two points from defeat, serving 5-6 and deuce in the third set. But she won eight of the next 10 points to win that game and take control of the tiebreaker at Utsubo Tennis Center.

Chang reached her first WTA Tour final as did her opponent for Sunday, Britain's Heather Watson. Watson beat southpaw Misaki Doi 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 in a tight semifinal.

Before this week, Watson's best WTA results were three quarterfinals, all last year, at international-level events in Auckland, Memphis and Quebec City.

Like Watson, Chang's best WTA results before this week were three quarterfinals — Kuala Lumpur and Osaka in 2010 and Birmingham this year.

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