Bartoli crushes opponent; Pennetta stuns opponent on Day 2 in Monterrey

After No. 1 seed Agnieszka Radwanska was ousted on Monday, No. 2 seed Marion Bartoli was declared the highest seed remaining, and she still is, after she was in great form in her first round match which she won in straight sets.

The Frenchwoman's victory came at night over Michaella Krajicek, who had to pass qualifications, 62 64.

In the second round, Bartoli will face Magdalena Rybarikova, who got past Edina Gallovits, 64 36 63.

No. 3 seed Flavia Pennetta won her match to Jill Craybas, 61 60.

No. 5 seed Agnes Szavay was also on the winners list, as she ousted Pauline Parmentier easily, 62 62.

No. 6 Iveta Benesova easily demolished Shahar Peer, who wasn't given a visa to the tournament in Dubai two weeks ago, 64 62.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Singles - First Round

(2) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. (Q) Michaella Krajicek (NED) 62 64

(3) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Jill Craybas (USA) 61 60

(5) Agnes Szavay (HUN) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 62 62

(6) Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Shahar Peer (ISR) 64 62

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld (GER) 63 26 76(4)

Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (Q) Arantxa Rus (NED) 64 26 62

Petra Cetkovska (CZE) d. Jarmila Groth (SVK) 63 62

Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 75 61

Mariya Koryttseva (UKR) d. (Q) Lenka Wienerova (SVK) 64 61

(Q) Vania King (USA) d. Klara Zakopalova (CZE) 61 64

(WC) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 64 36 63

Serena wins Billie Jean King Cup to older sister Venus in straight sets

No. 1 in the world Serena Williams beat No. 5 in the world Venus Williams 64 63 to win the BJK Cup, and took home $400,000 from the $1.2 million exhibition tournament, while Venus took home $300,000.

“I’m really excited about that opportunity. Hopefully it will continue to open more doors for women’s sports and women’s tennis.

The Williams sisters gave the crowd of 12,026 exactly what it wanted by advancing to the championship, but Venus was never the same after she was broken in a marathon game in the first set.

“The crowd was really nice, definitely,” said Venus Williams, who won the Mexican Open on Saturday night for her second WTA Tour title in two weeks. “I thought they were rooting for me to get back in and take it to the third, which I couldn’t quite do.”

Serena got to the final after beating Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, a former No. 1, 6-3 in a one-set semifinal, while Venus got past Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4 to get to the final.

Both the Serbs recieved $250,000 for getting to the semis.

"It was really good, really intense," the 27-year-old world number one said.

Venus, who leads the sisters' WTA tournament head-to-head series 10-9, said: "I tried but Serena was too good."

Top seed falls in three sets; sister also sent flying home on Day 1 in Monterrey

Maria Kirilenko, who suffered three first round losses in Sydney, Melbourne and Dubai, finally got her game back and won her first match of the season at Monterrey, Mexico in straight sets, while top seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who is expecting a birthday on Friday, was ousted in three sets.

The Pole fell to Li Na of China after being broken six times and managing to win only 33% of her second serve, 76(5) 46 60.

Agnieszka's younger sister Urszula, was also on court, and didn't get a better result than her sister, as the wildcard lost to another Chinese player, No. 4 seed Jie Zheng, in straight sets, 63 63.

No. 8 seed Kirilenko notched a straight sets win over Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, 64 63.

No. 7 seed Gisela Dulko also passed her first round test, winning to Nathalie Dechy, 64 75.

Lucie Safarova was also in the list of winners, as she demolished wildcard Melissa Torres Sandoval, 64 61.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Singles - First Round

Li Na (CHN) d. (1) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 76(5) 46 60

(4) Jie Zheng (CHN) d. (WC) Urszula Radwanska (POL) 63 63

(7) Gisela Dulko (ARG) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 64 75

(8) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 64 63

Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. (WC) Melissa Torres Sandoval (MEX) 64 61

Williams captures 41st career title in Acapulco

The final that everyone had expected came to reality on Saturday, and the higher seed and rank Venus Williams demolished her Italian opponent, Flavia Pennetta, in easy straight sets, 61 62, to win her 41st title of her career in Acapulco, Mexico.

"I started the week very tough. I had such difficult matches. Three three-setters in a row, each more difficult than the last," Williams said. "I think I deserved this win tonight. I played hard all week and tonight my serve and my game all came together. I loved coming to Mexico and winning my 41st Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title here. I hope to be back next year to defend it."

"What happened to me? Venus Williams is what happened to me. The No.5 player in the world is what happened to me!" joked Pennetta, after being asked what happened to her. "She was just playing so strong, serving so well, it was hard to fight against her power. I didn’t feel I played badly, she just overpowered me.

"I am not sad to leave like this. I had a great week, reaching the final again. The people here are so nice, they do everything to make the players feel at home, and I feel like this is my second home. The best fans are in Acapulco and I really appreciate their support. All credit to Venus for playing a great match."

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Singles - Final

(1) Venus Williams (USA) d. (2) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 61 62