Razzano big in Japan after Williams win

Virginie Razzano claimed her second successive WTA singles title on Saturday with victory over top seed Venus Williams at the Japan Open.

Fresh off her win at Guangzhou last weekend, the fifth-seeded Frenchwomen upset American Williams after fighting back to claim a 4-6 7-6 (9/7) 6-4 win.

Williams had looked almost unbeatable coming into the match having coasted her way through the tournament.

The world number eight dropped just one set in her first four matches at this event and had won 18 of her last 19 sets overall.

After taking the opening set against Razzano, the Wimbledon champion looked well on her way to capturing her fourth title of the year.

But Williams, who owns an impressive 47-9 record this season, failed to win a gruelling tie-breaker in the second set before falling in the decider.

In the men’s draw on Saturday, top seed David Ferrer secured his place in the final, beating Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 in 81 minutes.

The 25-year-old Spaniard is chasing his third title of the season following wins in Auckland and Bastad earlier this year.

Ferrer will face France’s Richard Gasquet in the final after the third seed advanced with a 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 win over second-seeded Czech Thomas Berdych in the their semi-final clash.

Gasquet extended his winning streak to nine consecutive matches with victory over Berdych, and is hoping to claim his sixth career title in Tokyo and second in as many tournaments after lifting the trophy in Mumbai last week.

Ferrer and Gasquet have only faced each other once before. The Spaniard got the better of the Frenchman in the last 16 at Stuttgart in 2004.