(Sports Network) - Aravane Rezai took home the WTA Tournament of Champions title after fellow Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli retired following the first set of Sunday's final.

Rezai, 22, won her second career WTA singles title, with the other coming back in May in Strasbourg just before the French Open.

"I'm very sorry for Marion that this happened," said Rezai. "I'd prefer to win in a different way, but it's tennis, a lot of different things happen."

The top-seeded Bartoli was up 5-3 in the first set before her countrymate rallied to take the set 7-5. The five-time title winner had her left thigh taped up prior to hitting a double fault that gave her opponent the set, and she retired shortly thereafter.

"My leg was hurting and I tried my best to carry on, but it was too much pain," said Bartoli. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to finish today."

Bartoli had won previously this year in Monterrey and Stanford, but fell to 2-2 in finals in 2009.

Rezai, who was seeded 10th, and Bartoli were squaring off for the third time. Bartoli won both previous meetings without dropping a set, including a second- round matchup in Tokyo just five weeks ago.

Rezai, as an undefeated champion in this round-robin event, earned a first prize of $200,000.



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