Miscellany

Alicia Molik, seeded 2nd in the qualifying draw for the Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, was defeated 7-6, 6-0 today by Beatriz Garcia Vidagany in the second round of qualifying.

Because it's so important that we know she's a blonde...

"I don't really understand the whole Twitter thing," says Sam Stosur. "Who cares if you're eating a sandwich or getting a haircut?" Amen, sister.

But also from Stosur: "I don't really read that many books...."

Serena Williams says she has not set a date to return to the tour. She has withdrawn from Marbella.

Casey Dellacqua has apparently withdrawn from the Family Circle Cup. Sabine Lisicki has withdrawn from the MPS Group Championships in Ponte Vedra Beach. She is continuing to rehabilitate her ankle.

And finally, here's something from Miami you didn't see on television:

Dellacqua out, but not without a fight

Venus Williams defeated Casey Dellacqua in the third round of the Australian Open today. She took the first set, 6-1, but this was one of those sets whose score does not reflect the action that occurred. In the second, Dellacqua--who missed most of last season because of shoulder reconstruction--thrilled the Aussie crowd by going all the way to a tiebreak with Williams. Then she thrilled them a bit more by saving three match points when she was down 1-6. Williams then hit an ace to win the match. Dellacqua converted only one of eight break points; Williams converted three of thirteen.

In a strange turn of events, Dellacqua became Williams' third left-handed opponent in a row.

In 2008, Dellacqua defeated both Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo to get to the round of 16.

Williams' next opponent will be the fighting Italian, Francesca Schiavone, who defeated 10th

seed Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-2, 6-2. Schiavone is seeded 17th. Radwanska is now 0-4 against Schiavone.

With the exception of Daniela Hantuchova and Li Na, most of the other matches played today were uncomplicated. Li defeated Hantuchova 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. For Gisela Dulko, it was too little too late; Vera Zvonareva defeated her 6-1, 7-5.

Serena Williams defeated Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0, 6-3; Victoria Azarenka defeated Tathiana Garbin, 6-0, 6-2; and Sam Stosur defeated Alberta Brianti 6-4, 6-1.

Dellacqua wins wild card playoff

Casey Dellacqua has won the Australian Open wild card playoffs in Australia. Dellacqua defeated Olivia Rogowska 1-6, 6-7, 6-3. Rogowska, who was the number 1 seed, served for the match in the second set, and held three match points in the tiebreak, but could not convert them.

There is still a chance that Rogowska will receive a discretionary wild card.

Dellacqua, who was off the tour most of this season because of shoulder surgery, made it to the round of 16 in last year's Australian Open.

Dellacqua and Rogowska to meet in final

Top seed Olivia Rogowska defeated Jessica Moore today in the Australian Open wild card playoffs in Australia, while Casey Dellacqua defeated Sally Peers. The winner of tomorrow's final will get a wild card into the main draw in Melbourne. Should Dellacqua lose, however, she--like Alicia Molik, who lost in the quarterfinals--will still be under consideration to receive a discretionary wild card.

Dellacqua to have shoulder surgery

For some time now, Casey Dellacqua has been complaining of shoulder pain. She modified her service motion, but that didn't help. Dellacqua says she tried everything she could to heal her shoulder without surgery, but her efforts were in vain. She will undergo surgery on Monday, and will be back some time mid-season, which could mean after Wimbledon.

Black & Huber out of Sydney

Tops seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber were defeated today in the Medibank International semifinals. Nathalie Dechy and Casey Dellacqua defeated them, 7-6, 1-6, 10-5.

Meanwhile, in Hobart, Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko won their semifinal match against Edina Gallovits and Arantxa Parra Santonja, 6-4, 6-3.

Peschke and Raymond defeated in Sydney quarterfinals

Nathalie Dechy and Casey Dellacqua have defeated number 3 seeds, Kveta Peschke and Lisa Raymond, at the Medibank International tournament in Sydney. Dechy and Dellacqua took the match, 6-3, 6-2. All three top seeds are now out.

Lisicki gives Germany a Hopman Cup win

Sabine Lisicki has defeated Casey Dellacqua, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, in the first of three Hopman Cup matches between Germany and Australia.

Wild card for Dellacqua

Casey Dellacqua has been given a wild card into the main draw of the Medibank International tournament in Sydney.

Dellacqua says that she, like so many other players, has changed her service motion in order to avoid shoulder injury.

Dulko and Dellacqua both out of Sony Ericsson Open

Gisela Dulko, who has been working hard to achieve her highest ranking, was eliminated from competition today in Miami. She was defeated, 6-4, 7-6, by Tatiana Perebiynis. There was a total of nine breaks in the match, and Perebiynis won the tiebreak 7-1.

Meanwhile, new Australian star Casey Dellacqua was defeated by Anastasia Rodionova, 6-2, 7-6. Rodionova saved eight set points in the second set, then won the tiebreak 7-1.

Nicole Vaidisova out of Indian Wells

Casey Dellacqua, who showed a big improvement in form at the Australian Open, whacked twelve aces tonight, and won a slot in the third round of the Pacific Life Open, upsetting Nicole Vaidisova, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Dellacqua will have her work cut out for her in the next round, when she plays Tamira Paszek.

Schnyder out in second round

Anyone who reads this blog knows that it is with great displeasure that I report that Patty Schnyder, who was leading 6-4, 3-0 in her Australian Open second round, has lost to Australian Casey Dellacqua. Final score: Dellacqua def. Schnyder, 4-6, 7-5, 8-6.

I have nothing else to say.

Retirement benefits for several players

I was sad to see Annabel Medina Garrigues retire in her first round match in Hobart against wild card Casey Dellacqua. Medina Garriagues had to stop playing in the first set because of a sacroiliac joint sprain, with Dellacqua leading, 5-4.

Meanwhile, in Sydney, Nathalie Dechy retired with a left quads strain in the final qualifying round, giving Yuliana Fedak the victory with a score of 5-2 in the first set. Karin Knapp retired from heat illness in her final qualifying round, giving a win to Kaia Kanepi, at 3-6, 6-3, 3-3. And Sofia Arvidsson won her final qualifying round, 6-0, 4-0, when Tzipora Obziler retired with heat illness.

Update: Dechy has recovered and has entered the main draw as a lucky loser.

Wild card news

From On the Baseline comes news that Lindsay Davenport, not surprisingly, has been granted a gold emeritus exemption for 2008. That is a good thing. Another good thing is that Casey Dellacqua has been given a wild card for the main draw for the Moorilla Hobart International. And, staying with the Australian theme, Nicole Pratt was granted a wild card into the main draw at Medibank International.