Sam Stosur claims third Osaka title

The Australian top seed clinched her sixth career singles trophy with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 victory over Kazakhstan's fifth seed Diyas in one hour 40 minutes at the WTA International hard-court event.

The match swung in Stosur's favour in an undulating first-set tie-break, the 2011 US Open champion using all her experience to save set points and clinch the momentum.

Stosur saved one set point to level the tie-break at 6-6, using aggression to get to the net and putting away a simple backhand volley winner.

Diyas set up her second set point with a strong return of Stosur's serve, but the 20-year-old pulled a backhand wide to give Stosur an easy out.

Another Diyas error in the 15th point of the tie-break gave the Queenslander her first set point, and Stosur duly delivered to wrap up the set with an unreturnable smash.

Diyas then wasted a game point serving first in the second set, and was broken - and Stosur would hold serve throughout the set to coast to the title.

The final appearance - Diyas' first at WTA level - should see the Kazakh rise from her ranking of 37th, while the 18th-ranked Stosur defended those claimed 12 months prior.