NISHI-TOKYO, JAPAN: Former ATP Top 100 ranked Danai Udomchoke claimed his first singles title since August 2012 with victory in Japan.

Thailand’s Davis Cup star took the title after a great week of tennis which saw him reel off five consecutive straight sets wins including in the final, in which the 32-year-old was giving away 10 years to his opponent Shuichi Sekiguchi, to bring an end to his nineteen month barren spell.

OSPREY, FL, USA: In a tough draw that featured 11 players ranked inside the WTA Top 100, including 2009 US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin, it was Slovakian second seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova who emerged victorious.

Competing in her 11th career singles final, Schmiedlova defeated top seed Marina Erakovic 62 63 to earn her first tournament win since April 2013 and secure the eighth title of her career.

The week, much interrupted by rainy conditions, began well for Schmiedlova, who, on a break from WTA Tour action, was making a return to the ITF Pro Circuit for the first time since losing in the final of a $100,000 tournament in Biarritz, France back in July 2013, as she posted a 62 60 win over American wild card Jan Abaza.

Top seed Marina Erakovic also came through the opening round in straight sets, winning 75 60, but fallers in the first round included the aforementioned Oudin along with Dinah Pfizenmaier and Virginie Razzano, seeded fifth and sixth respectively.

Two more seeds fell in round two with the exits of seventh seed Petra Cetkovska by walkover and the eighth seeded Julia Glushko who lost sets of 62 and 61 either side of a 64 second set win and Schmiedlova was fortunate not to join them.

Mathilde Johansson looked to be on course to spring a major upset when taking the first set of their match without the loss of a game before the Slovakian fought her way back into the match to take the next two sets 63 64.

The top four seeds then won comfortably into the semifinal, although fourth seed Lourdes Dominguez Lino did drop the second set in her win but only conceded one game in the deciding third set to set up a meeting with Schmiedlova.

Both semifinals went the distance. Schmiedlova had a tricky contest with her Spanish opponent and narrowly claimed a final place in a third set 7-5 tiebreak win whilst Erakovic fought from a set down to defeat Jana Cepelova and in doing so ending Slovakian fans hopes of seeing their sole representatives in the draw fight it out in the title match.

After the rainy week already endured, the final was thankfully played out in sunnier conditions. Schmiedlova took the opening set for the loss of just two games and conceded just three in the second to wrap up her first triumph in 12 months. The title also helped to elevate the 19-year-old to a new WTA career high singles ranking of No. 66.

Dunstan 'really impressive' says Richo Watch St Kilda coach Alan Richardson's post-match press conference

Sam Gilbert injured his foot against West Coast on Saturday night

ST KILDA didn't quite come marching in for a third straight win to start 2014, but the form of young gun Luke Dunstan and pending reinforcements have coach Alan Richardson buoyant about the next few weeks.

The main downside to a fighting 25-point loss to West Coast at Patersons Stadium was the foot injury to experienced defender Sam Gilbert, which looks likely to keep him out in the short-term at least.

However, the cavalry is coming to help offset the loss of Gilbert. Last year's best and fairest Jack Steven is likely to play next week, although Richardson suggested that would be in the VFL, Sam Fisher is nearing a return, while 18-year-old Jack Billings thrust his name forward with five goals for Sandringham yesterday.

Key forward Tom Lee also booted four while Trent Dennis-Lane (three goals) and Terry Milera were also prominent.

Dunstan, 19, was outstanding against the Eagles, finishing with 29 disposals, including 15 contested possessions, five tackles, six clearances and two goals.

He had 21 and 15 disposals in his first two games.

"He was just really impressive again tonight," Richardson said after the match. 

"He's ended with close to 30 possessions, five tackles and he's kicked a pretty important goal, although it was late and it was unlikely we were going to come back from there, but he wasn't to know that.

"At that stage you've got a fair bit of pressure on you to make the most of those opportunities and he went back and kicked a really strong goal for us. He has been really impressive.

"He has been among our better players for three weeks in a row, probably more if you include the NAB Challenge."

Richardson appeared resigned to losing Gilbert for a while.

"It is the foot that he's had surgery on so it looks like he's done some sort of damage to that," Richardson said. "We're obviously hoping that it's a really significant scar-tissue injury but that may not be the case.

"Gilbert has been really good for us, he's played on Jeremy Howe in round one and (Jeremy) Cameron, an All Australian last week and he's had one goal kicked on him, so he's been in really good form and he provides really strong leadership for our young guys.

"You are always going to miss those players."

Richardson blamed turnovers for the Saints falling away in the second-half. They were in front by eight points at half-time but were outscored seven goals to two in the second half.

"The reality is we just turned the footy over too many times," he said. "The Eagles scored 8.8 on the back of turning our footy over.

"We were well and truly solid defensively but didn't maximise when we turned the footy over. We were able to achieve 41 midfield turnovers which is a pretty good number but weren't able to capitalise.

"We thought we were really strong in terms of effort and contest."

St Kilda plays Adelaide at Etihad Stadium next Sunday, April 13.