Angelique Kerber through to WTA Championships in Istanbul
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
Germany's Angelique Kerber has secured the last place at the WTA Championships in Istanbul - after victory in Linz.
World number 10 Kerber grabbed the eighth and final spot at the showpiece end-of-season event after winning her quarter-final in Austria on Friday.
The 25-year-old beat Austria's Patricia Mayr-Achleitner 6-3 6-1 to set up a semi-final clash with fourth-seeded Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro.
Regardless of the result Kerber will now compete at the WTAs on October 22.
"Qualifying for Istanbul is a great achievement" Kerber said.
"It's the reward for my consistency though I've had my ups and downs and a couple of injuries this year."
She saved a break point at 3-2 down in the first set before winning nine straight games to lead 6-3, 5-0.
The German - who required only one match point - added: "I was a bit nervous at the start and Patricia played really well, then I settled and felt more relaxed."
America's Sloane Stephens misses out on Istanbul after losing to Switzerland's Stefanie Voegele, 6-7 (3-7) 6-4 7-5
But Kerber will dine at the top tennis table alongside Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Agnieska Radwanska, Li Na, Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani and Jelena Jankovic.
This year the German lost in the final at Monterrey to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and reached the semi-finals at both Indian Wells and Stuttgart - followed by a quarter-final exit in Madrid at the hands of Ana Ivanovic.
