Seles seals Japan success

The victory was Monica Seles' 50th of her career

Monica Seles claimed a comfortable straight sets victory over Tamarine Tanasugarn in the final of the Japan Open in Tokyo.

The top seed used her superior power game to brush aside the her Thai opponent 6-3 6-2 to win the $27,000 (18,000) prize money.

It was Seles' 50th career victory - her third of the season after successes in Oklahoma in February and the Brazilian Open last month.

Seles needed court side attention to her ankle in Friday's semi-final, but she revealed the injury was not serious.

"It's feeling fine," said the world number nine. "I was very lucky it is a light sprain. I had no problems with it.

"I'm very happy to win this title for the first time. I hope to be back here next year to defend it."

Seles has confirmed she will be participating in the Hopman Cup, the mixed doubles event, in Perth in December.

The former world number one was alarmed at last year's tournament by an overly excited autograph-hunter.

The 28-year-old, who was stabbed by a German spectator in 1993, was tapped on the shoulder by a man who had managed to elude security.

Although no action was taken against the man, Seles was clearly shaken by the incident.

Seles and partner Jan-Michael Gambill lost in the final to Switzerland's Martina Hingis and Roger Federer.