Plenty of injuries in Dubai

Elena Dementieva, who just won the Paris indoor championship, had to retire today in Dubai because of a right shoulder injury. Daniela Hantuchova was the beneficiary of the retirement. Anabel Medina Garrigues, playing Svetlana Kuznetsova, retired with a lower back injury, and Kateryna Bondarenko, who opponent was Victoria Azarenka, retired with a left knee sprain. All three retirements took place during second round matches.

There were some tight matches today, but the only upset in singles was of 14th seed Francesca Schiavone, who lost to Olga Govortsova. In doubles, Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik upset 3rd seeds Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, 6-1, 4-6, 10-7.