Medina Garrigues claims title in Morocco after easy win to No. 6 seed

The final of the Grand Prix de SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem was held on Sunday between top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues and No. 6 seed Ekaterina Makarova, Medina Garrigues looking to gain the title after being last year's finalist and Makarova entering her first singles Tour final.

Medina Garrigues was no contender against the Russian, as the Spaniard demolished her with a score of 60 61 in just 60 minutes.

Their only meeting before this one came in 2008 in Portoroz, when Medina Garrigues won with a score of 61 63 in the Round of 32. So now, the Spaniard leads 2-0 in head-to-head results.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Singles - Final

(1) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) d. (6) Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 60 61

Russian final to be held in Stuttgart

Top seed Dinara Safina came through a semifinal against Flavia Pennetta to get to the final of the Porsche Grand Prix, and awaits No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.

Safina was down 36 13, and then she started to fight back, winning the second set with a close score, after being down 4-5. The third set ended with a perfect bagel for the Russian, as the final score was 36 75 60.

"I wasn't doing anything. I guess I was passive. But I was able to change things fast," Safina said. "She was 63 54 up and got tight. She gave me a few free points but I also began playing better, so maybe she was feeling more pressure. I told myself to get fighting and do something to win the match."

Kuznetsova made an easy entrance into the final, after beating compatriot and No. 2 seed Elena Dementieva, 64 62.

"Things went my way today," said Kuznetsova, who improves to 6-4 lifetime against her countrywoman. "I enjoyed myself. I played well and enjoyed the match. The atmosphere was great and I was very happy on the court. I think I served well - I put pressure on her and used my hands a lot in the match."

Safina leads the head-to-head results against Kuznetsova, 7-4. But we will see who succeeds in winning!!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Singles - Semifinals

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 36 75 60

(5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. (2) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 64 62

Jankovic gets ousted; Safina advances to semis with two other seeded Russians and Italian

Top seed Dinara Safina succeeded at reaching the semifinals of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany, after defeating the No. 8 seed. She will now face Flavia Pennetta, who fought against No. 3 seed Jelena Jankovic to win in three sets.

Safina ousted Agnieszka Radwanska in easy straight sets, with a score of 64 62.

No. 2 seed Elena Dementieva advanced to the semis after her win to Marion Bartoli, 62 46 63.

"I am very glad I was able to finish strongly," said 27-year-old Dementieva, who is looking for her third title of the season after success at Auckland and Sydney in January. "It was a very emotional match for both of us."

No. 5 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova ousted Gisela Dulko in her quarterfinal match, 63 62.

The upset of the day was when Jelena Jankovic lost in three sets to Flavia Pennetta, the score being 26 64 64.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Singles - Quarterfinals

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. (8) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 64 62

(2) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Marion Bartoli (FRA) 62 46 63

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. (3) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 26 64 64

(5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 63 62

Safina continues to defeat; Wozniacki and Petrova ousted

On Thursday at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, some seeds went crashing out, while the top seed advanced in easy straight sets along with the No. 2 seed.

Two seeds were sent home, and those seeds were No. 6 seed Nadia Petrova and No. 7 seed Caroline Wozniacki. Petrova fell to unseeded Flavia Pennetta, 62 62; while Wozniacki was ousted by Marion Bartoli, 76(6) 64.

No. 1 seed Dinara Safina went through after winning her match to Daniela Hantuchova, 64 62 while compatriot and No. 2 Elena Dementieva also advanced, winning to Agnes Szavay with a score of 76(4) 61.

No. 3 seed Jelena Jankovic won her match in three tough sets against wildcard Sabine Lisicki, 75 57 63.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Singles - Second Round

(1) Dinara Safina (RUS) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 64 62

(2) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. Agnes Szavay (HUN) 76(4) 61

(3) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (WC) Sabine Lisicki (GER) 75 57 63

(5) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. Li Na (CHN) 46 64 75

Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. (6) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 62 62

Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. (7) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 76(6) 64

(8) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (Q) Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 63 63