Bartoli and Petkovic to compete for Strasbourg title

Top seed Marion Bartoli advanced to the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg today by defeating three-time champion Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-1, 6-2. Medina Garrigues' formerly slumping career has turned around recently, but she was stopped short in France by Bartoli. Medina Garrigues was seeded 7th in this year's tournament.

Bartoli will play 2nd seed Andrea Petkovic in the final. Petkovic defeated 6th seed Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted over two hours and 42 minutes.

Doubles 2nd seeds Natalie Grandin and Vladamira Uhlirova have also reached the Strasbourg final, in which they will play 4th seeds Akgul Amanmuradova and Chuang Chia-Jung.

Medina Garrigues and Vinci win titles

Anabel Medina Garrigues won her tenth WTA title today in Estoril. Medina Garrigues defeated Kristina Barrois 6-1, 6-2 in the final. Nine of the Spaniard's titles have come on clay. Medina Garrigues recently overcame a losing streak comprised of ten consecutive first round losses.

Alisa Kleybanova and Galina Voskoboeva won the Estoril doubles championship. They defeated Elena Daniilidou and Michaela Krajicek 6-4, 6-2 in the final.

Roberta Vinci won her fourth title today when she defeated Lucie Hradecka 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Vinci was the champion in 2009, and the runner-up in 2010.

The doubles title went to the top seeds, Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. They defeated Natalie Grandin and Vladirimira Uhlirova 5-7, 6-4, 11-9. Benesova and Zahlavova Strycova have won eleven titles together. 

Clijsters squeaks into Miami quarterfinals

Kim Clijsters won the first set 7-6. Ana Ivanovic won the second, 6-3, then went up 5-1 in the third. She held five match points, too, but it was the 2nd seed who walked away with the win when she prevailed 7-5 in a third set tiebreak. Clijsters double-faulted eleven times in the match, but has to be given credit for making an amazing comeback against the 19th seed.

There were some upsets today. Top seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta were defeated by 8th seeds Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and Anabel Medina Garrigues. The Spanish team defeated Dulko and Pennetta 7-5, 6-4 in a match that featured twelve breaks of serve. In singles, 6th seed Jelena Jankovic lost her quarterfinal match to 21st seed Andrea Petkovic. Petkovic, who has always had talent but who used to fall short in the nerve department, seetms to have turned that situation around. She defeated Jankovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, giving her an excellent follow-up to her defeat of world number 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

And then there was the quarterfinal match between Alexandra Dulgheru and Maria Sharapova, which seemed like the Match That Wouldn't End. At 5-all in the third, serving at 30-15, Sharapova left the court to have the trainer look at her foot after she turned her ankle (she had called for the trainer earlier, but had changed her mind); she then received medical treatment. Dulgheru can be somewhat of a wall (talk about fitness), and she was happy to hang in and continually retrieve balls and wait for the 16th seed to make errors. They played almost three hours and 29 minutes, and broke each other 18 times. It went on for so long that Dulgheru did a costume change. Once she hurt her foot, Sharapova really started taking it to the 26th seed, with Dulgheru giving it right back, as she moved Sharapova around the court as much as possible.

Sharapova, who made 76 unforced errors (including 17 double faults), won the match 3-6, 7-6, 7-6. Dulgheru's relentless defense game almost paid off, but not quite. How Sharapova will fare in terms of foot strength and energy is unknown, but she put herself back into the top 10, no matter what. She also did a very good job of working around her injury and the feelings that obviously accompanied it.

Several years ago, I watched Nadia Petrova beat down Sharapova, and throughout the match, Petrova's name was mentioned only once. Commentators Mary Joe Fernandez and Cliff Drysdale could not stop talking about Sharapova, even as she was being hammered by her countrywoman. I thought of that tonight when I had Tennis Channel on (the picture is more stable than on Tennis TV, so sometimes I have them both running). To hear Lindsay Davenport go on, Dulgheru wasn't even there. Funny--I saw Dulgheru play her heart out, change the pace when she needed to, switch from defense to offense, and skillfully run down balls that would have created winners against other players. But Davenport would not give her any credit. Even when co-commentator Ted Robinson said "Dulgheru deserves a lot of respect," Davenport changed the subject.

I enjoy watching Sharapova as much as the next person, and--as anyone who reads this blog knows--I have not been part of the "Sharapova's career is over" trend. This isn't about Sharapova: It's about a commentator's ridiculous fawning over a player--which is problematic in itself--and her subsequent dismissal of the opponent. It took Sharapova three and a half error-strewn hours to overcome Dulgheru; maybe the 26th seed could be acknowledged as at least being part of the match?

(And while I'm on the subject of Tennis Channel: The Family Circle Cup in Charleston, a premier event, takes place next week, but according to Tennis Channel, it doesn't exist. The commentators have the women heading straight from Miami to Europe.)

Dominguez Lino takes Bogota title

7th seed Lourdes Dominguez Lino won the championship in Bogota today, defeating Mathilde Johansson 2-6, 6-3, 6-2. Dominguez Lino also won the title in 2006, when she defeated Flavia Pennetta in the final.

Yesteday, the doubles title was claimed by top seeds Edina Gallovits-Hall and Anabel Medina Garrigues when they defeated Sharon Fichman and Laura Pous-Tio 2-6, 7-6, 11-9.

Goerges wins Gastein Ladies

Today in Bad Gastein, Julia Goerges played her delayed semifinal match against Alize Cornet, and won it, 6-1, 6-4. She then defeated Timea Bacsinszky 6-1, 6-4 in the final. This is Goerges' first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title.

2nd seeds Lucie Hradecka and Anabel Medina Garrigues won the doubles title, defeating 4th seeds Bacsinszky and Tathiana Garbin 6-7, 6-1, 10-5.

Sevastova wins first tour title in Estroril

Anastasija Sevastova won her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title today, defeating Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-2, 7-5. Sevasova is currently ranked number 74 in the world, and will be ranked higher when the new numbers are published next week. She is having a breakthrough season this year.

The top-seeded doubles team, Sorana Cirstea and Anabel Medina Garrigues, won the doubles title. In the final, they defeated Vitalia Diatchenko and Aurelie Vedy 6-1, 7-5.

Benesova wins everything in Fes

7th seed Iveta Benesova won the singles title in Fes today, defeated Simona Halep 6-4, 6-2 in the final. Benesova and her partner, Anabel Medina Garrigues, also won the doubles title. The top seeds defeated number 2 Lucie Hradecka and Renata Voracova 6-3, 6-1.

This is Benesova's second singles title, and her eighth doubles title.

Safarova and Medina Garrigues out of Monterrey in 1st round

Klara Zakopalova defeated 6th seed Anabel Medina Garrigues 7-5, 7-5 today in the first round of the Monterrey Open. Also going out in the first round was 8th seed Lucie Safarova, who was defeated 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 by Julie Coin. Coin hit ten aces in the match.

There was also an upset in doubles. Lourdes Dominguez Lino and Arantxa Parra Santonja defeated 3rd seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 5-7, 6-2, 10-5.

Medina Garrigues goes to Hobart semifinals

Top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues advanced to the Hobart semifinals today by defeating Gisela Dulko 6-1, 5-7, 6-1. Also advancing were Alona Bondarenko (def. Zheng Jie), Sara Errani (def. Kirsten Flipkens), and Shahar Peer (def. Carla Suarez Navarro).

3rd seeds Dulko and Zheng were upset in doubles by Chan Yung-Jan and Monica Niculescu.

In the semifinals, Medina Garrigues will play Bondarenko, and Errani will play Peer.

Seeds advance in Hobart

Advancing today in Hobart were top seed Anabel Medina Garrigues (def. qualifier Alla Kudryavtseva), 4th seed Alona Bondarenko (def. Alize Cornet), 7th seed Zheng Jie (def. Peng Shuai), and 8th seed Gisela Dulko (def. Tamira Paszek).

The Dulko-Paszek match, played in very windy conditions, produced the odd score of 6-1, 0-6, 7-6, and Paszek double-faulted 19 times. "It was a point today, it was impossible to play tennis," Dulko said after the match. "At the end of the second set, and almost all of the third set it was so tough-- you can't play like this. I don't think I've played tennis in worse conditions than this today."

Official had to weigh down the scoreboard and points had to be interrupted because debris was flying onto the court. According to Dulko, the match should have been stopped.

I saw such a match in 2007 in Charleston, right after several tornadoes came down near the Family Circle Cup Stadium. The final was difficult to play, though 2007 champion Jelena Jankovic handled the wind quite well. It was the doubles final, however, that appeared almost impossible to play, though officials did not stop it, and it did go on until the end. Stuff was flying all over the place, the flower stands came down, and--though I understand the need to finish a tournament--I also fully understand Dulko's objection.

Ruano Pascual ends outstanding career

Virginia Ruano Pascual, one of the greatest doubles players of the Open era, is retiring. Ruano Pascual, who is 36 years old, holds 42 doubles titles and three singles titles on the tour. Ten of the Spanish player's women's doubles titles are majors, and eight of those were won in partnership with the great Argentine player, Paola Suarez.

Ruano Pascual won the French Open six times. The last two victories, in 2008 and 2009, she shared with countrywoman Anabel Medina Garrigues. Ruano Pascual also has a mixed doubles major title; she and Thomas Carbonell won the French Open in 2000.

Ruano Pascual played on the Spanish Fed Cup team a total of 14 years, and was on the Spanish Olympic team three times. "Vivi," as she is known to fans and friends, always made playing championship doubles look so easy. She and Suarez were known as much for their humor and enthusiasm as they were for their crack doubles skills.

Miscellany

The Chris Evert/Raymond James Pro-Celebrity Tennis Classic just concluded; four former number 1 players were on hand to help Evert raise money for at-risk children. Evert, Martina Navratilova, Monica Seles, and Lindsay Davenport all participated.

Yanina Wickmayer has begun an appeal of her one-year suspension.

Virginia Ruano Pascual is expected to retire in the near future. The word is that her doubles partner, Anabel Medina Garrigues, will team with Caroline Wozniacki.

In case you were wondering...Sam Sumyk is still Vera Zvonareva's coach; he was just unable to accompany her during the last part of the season. Zvonareva is currently resting after having ankle surgery in Rotterdam.

ESPN is preparing a documentary on the rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.

Who is Ms. Backspin for 2009? Find out here.

Top seed out in Guangzhou

Anastasija Sevastova defeated number 1 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues today, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, at the Guangzhou International Women's Open. Meanwhile, 3rd seed Peng Shuai advanced to the third round. Zheng Jie was seeded 2nd in the tournament, but withdrew because of a left wrist injury.

Russians upset number 2 seeds at U.S. Open

French Open champions Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual, seeded 2nd at the U.S. Open, were upset today by the Russian team of Alisa Kleybanova and Ekaterina Makarova. The number 13 seeds won the match in straight sets, 7-6, 6-3. Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascual saved one match point, but were broken on their serve to give the victory to Kleybanova and Makarova.

Medina Garrigues and Govortsova upset in Istanbul

3rd seed Anabel Medina Garrigues was upset today in the Istanbul Cup quarterfinals by 5th seed Vera Dushevina. 7th seed Olga Govortsova was also upset, by Gastein Ladies champion Andrea Petkovic, who defeated her 6-3, 6-3.

Other quarterfinal winners were Timea Bacsinszsky (def. Urszula Radwanska) and 8th seed Lucie Hradecka (def. Marta Domachowska).

Medina Garrigues out in first round of Slovenia Open

Number 2 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues lost her first round today at the Slovenia Open in Portoroz. Medina Garrigues was upset by qualifier Vesna Manasieva, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. The match lasted two hours and 48 minutes.

Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascual upset in 1st round in Eastbourne

3rd seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual were upset today at the AEGON International by Vera Dushvina and Galina Voskoboeva, 4-6, 7-6, 11-9.

The only other upset occurred in singles qualifying: Top seed Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez was defeated in straight sets in the final qualifying round by Jarmila Groth.

In singles play, Nadia Petrova and Zheng Jie are through to the second round; they defeated Ana Ivanovic and Carla Suarez Navarro, respectively. Sabine Lisicki, one of the tour's top servers, won only three games against Samantha Stosur, another of the tour's top servers. Since she sustained a shoulder injury and then--immediately after--experienced an abdominal illness, Lisicki has not done much of anything, and going out in the first round in Eastbourne does not help her Wimbledon chances.

Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascual defend French Open title

The 2008 French Open women's doubles champions have done it again. Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual defeated Victoria Azarenka and Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-1 today to win the 2009 French Open. This makes six French Open doubles titles for Ruano Pascual, who now holds a total of ten doubles titles in majors.

In wheelchair doubles, Esther Vergeer and Korie Homan are the 2009 champions. They defeated Annick Sevenans and Aniek van Koot 6-2, 6-3. Vergeer and Homan were the top seeds. Earlier today, Vergeer defeated Homan to win the singles championship.

Black and Huber out of French Open

Today at Roland Garros, the 2008 French Open champions--Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual--defeated the top seeds, Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. Medina Garrigues and Ruano Pascual now go to the final, in which they will play 12th seeds Victoria Azarenka and Elena Vesnina. Azarenka and Vesnina defeated 9th seeds Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai 6-3, 7-5.

Black and Huber, the number 1 team in the world, have never won the French Open.

Defending champion retires in Strasbourg

Anabel Medina Garrigues, who was going for a fourth title in Strasbourg, had to retire today in her second round match against Kristina Barrois. Medina Garrigues suffered a lower back injury, which she says should heal in three or four days.

Yesterday saw four seeds--Nathalie Dechy, Elena Vesnina, Tamarine Tanasugarn, and Anna-Lena Groenefeld--taken out in the first round. The biggest surprise was the early exit of Vesnina, who was defeated by Julie Coin (and not for the first time). The hometown spirit was alive today, too, as Stephanie Cohen-Aloro defeated Gisela Dulko in the second round. Dulko hit nine aces and committed nine double faults. Cohen-Aloro also committed nine double faults. Cohen-Aloro prevailed--4-6, 7-6, 6-4--in a match that lasted two and a half hours.