Chang, Watson set for Osaka WTA final

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OSAKA, Japan, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Chang Kai-Chen defeated top-seeded Samantha Stosur Saturday and will meet Heather Watson in the title match of the HP Japan Women's Open tennis tournament.

Neither Chang nor Watson had reached the finals of a WTA event before and when they play Sunday for the HP Women's championship it will be the first time they've played each other.

Both had tough semifinals to advance. Chang beat Stosur 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) over about 2 1/2 hours and Watson was on the court more than 2 hours in a 7-6 (7-2), 7-5 win over Misaki Doi.

Chang took the tight match from Stosur by coming out just ahead in a well-played third set tiebreaker. Both players had three breaks, including one each in the final set.

Watson lost her serve four times on the day, with three of the breaks coming in a seesaw second set. Watson had four of her five breaks against Doi in that set

The HP Japan champion will take home $37,000 with the runner-up earning $19,000. The semifinals appearances were worth $10,200 each to both and Doi.