Top 20 player falls in first round in Paris

The Open GDF SUEZ kicked on Monday, as there was only one player in action on Day 1, and she was ousted in three sets.

No. 7 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues fell to Kaia Kanepi after battling for 2 hours and 26 minutes, 36 62 75.

Other winners of the day were both unseeded, and they were Li Na, who won to Agnes Szavay 76(2) 62, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who demolished wildcard Virginie Razzano, 64 61.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Singles - First Round

Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. (7) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 36 62 75

Li Na (CHN) d. Agnes Szavay (HUN) 76(6) 62

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. (WC) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 64 61

First day of PTT Pattaya Open has good start

On Monday, the first day of the PTT Pattaya Open, saw No. 5 seed Shuai Peng win her first round match, as she was lucky to get through to the second round, since her Italian opponent retired due to illness.

Peng lost the first set to Mara Santangelo and was leading the second set when Santangelo retired, giving the Chinese player a victory with the score of 36 52.

Other winners of the day were Vera Dushevina, who defeated Elena Bovina in straight sets, 64 75, Galina Voskoboeva, who won to Jarmila Groth 46 62 61, and Australian Open Girls Champion Ksenia Pervak, who ousted Tomoko Yonemura, 61 61.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Singles - First Round

(5) Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Mara Santangelo (ITA) 36 52 ret. (illness)

Vera Dushevina (RUS) d. Elena Bovina (RUS) 64 75

Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) d. Jarmila Groth (SVK) 46 62 61

Ksenia Pervak (RUS) d. Tomoko Yonemura (JPN) 61 61

Sharapova goes for return in March

Maria Sharapova says that she is eyeing a return to competitive tennis in March at the Indian Wells or Miami, as she is still healing her right shoulder that was injured in August in 2008.

"I have been training in Florida the last few weeks and really working hard," said Sharapova.

"It's really amazing how you can do all the exercises and rehab in the world, but nothing substitutes the time you spend on court running and hitting hundreds of balls.

"Right now I'm aiming for Palm Springs, or Miami, depending on how things shape up."

The 21-year-old Russian dropped to No. 17 this week in the rankings, as she pulled out of the Aussie Open, which she had to defend. It is the first time she has been out of the Top 10 since her victory at Wimbledon in 2004.

Breaking News of the Day: Henin, Clijsters to compete in exhibition tournament in December

Justine Henin, who retired from professional tennis in May last year while being No. 1 in the world, and Kim Clijsters, who retired in 2007 at the age of 24, are both going to play in an exhibition tournament in Belgium.

Maria Sharapova, who is again being held back form the Tour with a shoulder injury, has withdrawn from the tournament in Paris, France, which will be held on the 6th of February.

"I confirm she will not be there, she will not be taking part in the Dubai tournament the following week," a tournament spokeswoman said.