In 2011, no qualifier or lucky loser won a WTA title, the first time since 2003 that occurred. But then in 2012, a record four qualifiers raised winner's trophies. Here are the circumstances of each of those instances:

Mona Barthel in Hobart: The German upset four seeds en route to the title, including No.1 seed Yanina Wickmayer in the final.

Hsieh Su-Wei in Kuala Lumpur: She beat No.5 seed Petra Martic in the final to become the second player from Chinese Taipei to collect a WTA title.

Melanie Oudin in Birmingham: The American defeated three seeds en route to the title, including No.5 seed Jelena Jankovic in the final. Coming into the week at No. 208, she was the lowest-ranked WTA titlist in five years.

Kiki Bertens in Fès: The Dutchwoman was victorious in just her second WTA main draw tournament.

Here are all the years during the Open Era in which at least one qualifiers/lucky loser captured a WTA title:
1978: 2
1979: 1
1980: 2
1982: 1
1983: 1
1987: 1
1988: 2
1990: 1
1993: 1
1996: 1
1997: 3
1998: 1
1999: 2
2002: 2
2004: 3
2006: 1
2007: 1
2008: 3
2009: 1
2010: 2
2012: 4