Stosur, Bartoli reach Japan Open final

(AP) OSAKA, Japan - Top-seeded Samantha Stosur of Australia and second-seeded Marion Bartoli of France advanced to the Japan Open final in a rare semifinal-championship doubleheader Sunday.

Stosur, the U.S. Open champion, beat unseeded Zie Jheng of China 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted 2 hours, 36 minutes at the Utsubo Tennis Center. Bartoli defeated third-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany 6-1, 7-6 (5). Bartoli was never broken and won 81 percent of her first-serve points.

Stosur and Bartoli were set to return to the court for the final later Sunday. The semifinals were originally scheduled for Saturday, but were delayed until Sunday due to rain.