Quarterfinal draw set for Madrid

The top three seeds are no longer around, but the Madrid Open quarterfinal draw is nevertheless an intriguing one. Yesterday, 2nd seed Vera Zvonareva was beaten in straight sets by Petra Kvitova, and today, 3rd seed Francesca Schiavone was defeated by Bethanie Mattek-Sands. 5th seed Sam Stosur is also gone: She was upset 7-5, 6-3 by Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The biggest news today, however, was the knock-out of top seed Caroline Wozniacki,  6-4, 1-6, 6-3, by Julia Goerges, the player who defeated Wozniacki in the Stuttgart final. In the meantime, Lucie Safarova continued her fine run, defeating Jarmila Gajdosova in straight sets; she has also taken out Anabel Medina Garrigues and 7th seed Jelena Jankovic.

Top doubles seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta were defeated yesterday by 5th seeds Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko. Today, 2nd seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik advanced to the semifinals, as did 3rd seeds Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova. Pesschke and Srebotnik defeated Charleston champions Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina. Also moving to the semifinals was the team of Casey Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs.

Here is the singles quarterfinal draw:

Julia Goerges vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Victoria Azarenka (4) vs. Lucie Safarova
Li Na (6) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Dominika Cibulkova vs. Petra Kvitova (16)

Dokic wins Malaysian Open

Today in Kuala Lumpur, Jelena Dokic won her first WTA Tour title since 2002. Dokic defeated 5th seed Lucie Safarova 2-6, 7-6, 6-4, after Safarova served for the match in the second set. Dokic, thoughout the tournament, repeatedly came from behind to win, and mastered a series of tiebreaks. She won today's tiebreak 11-9, saving two match points along the way. She also served thirteen aces.

Before she left the tour, Dokic--who was once ranked number 4 in the world--won five titles, including championships in Rome, Tokyo and Moscow. In 2009, she made a dramatic and emotional run to the Australian Open quarterfinals, in which she lost to eventual runner-up Dinara Safina.

Safina, with partner Galina Voskoboeva, won the Malaysian Open doubles championship. Safina and Voskoboeva defeated Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Jessica Moore 7-5, 2-6, 10-5. Safina has fallen on hard times since she injured her back, so a win for her in doubles--though not as dramatic as Dokic's victory--is nevertheless a small change in fortune. Today's victory is the Russian's first championship doubles win in three years.

Dokic to play Safarova in Kuala Lumpur final

Jelena Dokic has made a surprise run to the final of the Malaysian Open. She defeated Michaella Krajicek in straight sets in the semifinals, and will compete against 5th seed Lucie Safarova for the 2011 title. Safarova defeated 4th seed (and wild card) Jarmila Groth. Dokic, who was off the tour for several years, has not won a title since 2002.

In Monterrey, Gisela Dulko won her 8th straight Mexican clay match, defeating Ksenia Pervak 6-1, 6-0. Other quarterfinal winners were top seed Jelena Jankovic, 2nd seed and defending champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and 8th seed Polona Hercog.

Second seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King are in the final. Their opponents will be either the top-seeded team of Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova or 3rd seeds, Julia Goerges and Polona Hercog.

Mirza out of Guangzhou

Sania Mirza's comeback was cut short today by Zhang Shuai, who defeated her 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the Guangzhou quarterfinals. Meanwhile, top seed Jarmila Groth advanced to the semifinals with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Maria Elena Camerin.

In the Quebec City quarterfinals, Bethanie Mattek-Sands defeated wild card Rebecca Marino 6-4, 7-5. Christina Mchale defeated qualifier Alexa Glatch, and qualifier Tamira Paszek defeated Sophie Arvidsson. Number 3 seed Lucie Safarova had to content with a challenge from Melanie Oudin, but Safarova came back from a 0-3 score in the final set to win the match, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Safarova injured, out of Prague

Top seed Lucie Safarova gave her second round opponent, Johanna Larsson, a walkover today at the Prague Open. Safarova has sustained a left hamstring muscle injury.

Meanwhile, in Palermo, Jill Craybas upset 4th seed Tsvetana Pironkova 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.

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.

Dementieva and Safarova return to Paris final

Two high-quality semifinal matches in Paris produced two Open GDF SUEZ finalists today. 2007 finalist Lucie Safarova defeated 2nd seed Flavia Pennetta 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, and top seed Elena Dementieva defeated Melanie Oudin 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Dementieva said the match was "probably the most difficult win of the year for me."

Oudin was unable to close the first set at 5-3 on her own serve, but broke Dementieva at 15 in the Russian's next service game. Oudin was using her backhand more effectively than usual, and was able to frustrate the first seed at almost every turn. In the second set, Dmentieva put more pressure on Oudin, and was rewarded with a 6-4 win. The last set saw an exchange of breaks until Dementieva was able to hold for 4-2. At that point, Oudin, producing a significant mis-hit, missed an opportunity to get a break point. It turned out to be her last such opportunity, and Dementieva took the set 6-3, winning on her second match point.

Dementieva was the finalist last year, losing to Amelie Mauresmo. In 2007, Safarova lost to Nadia Petrova in the final.

Safarova is now 2-0 against Pennetta.

Top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber will play 2nd seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the doubles final.

4 left standing in Paris

Move, over Dinara--there's another Thrill Ride in town. Ever since the U.S. Open, Melanie Oudin has performed in Safina-like fashion, coming back from being down a set and a break. She did it again today in Paris, against Agnes Szavay. Szavay took the first set 6-2 and went up 3-1 in the second. At that point, two things happened: Szavay's confidence started to collapse, and Oudin--sensing what was going on--moved in for the victory. Oudin won the second set 6-4, then went up 5-0 in the third before Szavay held. Szavay then broke Oudin when she served for the match, but Oudin broke her back to win.

A more interesting quarterfinal match was the one between top seed Elena Dementieva and Andrea Petkovic. Petkovic, who took out 5th seed Aravane Rezai yesterday, played such stunning tennis in the first set that it seemed inevitable that she would go down a level in the second. She did, but not by a whole lot. Experience took the day, however, and Dementieva was able to take the match with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 score.

Petkovic, like countrywoman Sabine Lisicki, descends--so to speak--from the likes of Fraulein Forehand, and the young German's forehand was on fire today. In women's pro tennis, we have become accustomed to seeing strong backhands, but perhaps this trend is changing. Ana Ivanovic, of course, has a splendid forehand, and so do Lisicki, Petkovic and Melanie Oudin. Petkovic's lively net play was also exciting to watch. One hopes that, with experience, she will be able to show off her considerable game to more and more fans.

The other two quarterfinal matches were brief affairs. 2nd seed (and wild card) Flavia Pennetta defeated Tathiana Garbin 6-1, 6-3, and Lucie Safarova upset 6th seed Shahar Peer, 6-3, 6-0.

In the semifinals, Dementieva will play Oudin, and Pennetta will play Safarova.

Schiavone and Rezai knocked out of Paris competition

Both 4th seed Francesca Schiavone and 5th seed Aravane Rezai were upset in the second round of the Open GDF SUEZ today in Paris. Lucie Safarova defeated Schiavone 7-5, 6-2, and Andrea Petkovic defeated Rezai 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Petkovic also hit eight aces in the process.

Petra Martic's glory was short-lived, as she lost in straight sets to Agnes Szavay. And Patty Schnyder appeared to have misplaced her serve (as she sometimes does) in her match against Melanie Oudin. Oudin, who had to take a medical break for her knee, easily won, 6-1, 6-3.

Here is the quarterfinal draw:

Elena Dementieva vs. Andrea Petkovic
Agnes Szavay vs. Melanie Oudin
Shahar Peer vs. Lucie Safarova
Tathiana Garbin vs. Flavia Pennetta

Dementieva, Pennetta and Peer are the only seeded players in the quarterfinals.

Czink wins first title

Melinda Czink, a left-hander from Hungary, won her first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title today, defeating (also left-handed) Lucie Safarova, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Quebec City. Czink, who was seeded 5th at the tournament, made her top 50 debut in August.

Top seeds Vania King and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova won the doubles championship, defeating Sofia Arvidsson and Severine Bremond Baltrame, 6-1, 6-3.

Safarova and Czink to meet in Quebec City final

4th seed Lucie Safarova and 5th seed Melinda Czink will meet tomorrow to determine who is the 2009 Bell Challenge champion. Safarova defeated 8th seed Julia Goerges 6-3, 6-2.

Czink got the better of 3rd seed Aleksandra Wozniak, defeating the local favorite 6-3, 6-3.

In doubles, Sofia Arvidsson and Severine Bremond Beltrame defeated 4th seeds Alla Kudryavtseva and Riza Zalameda, 7-5, 6-2. Arvidsson and Bremond Beltrame will play in the final against Vania King and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova. They defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.

Dementieva and Williams advance to Toronto semifinals

The first set played by Elena Dementieva and Sam Stosur in today's Rogers Cup quarterfinals contained plenty of exciting rallies, and plenty of breaks of serve. Dementieva was broken when she served for that set at 5-4, and that was the fourth consecutive break. There were more to come: She broke Stosur right back--at love, no less, when Stosur double-faulted on the final point. Then Stosur broke Dementieva when she served for the set a second time, which forced a tiebreak, which Stosur dominated.

The next set might as well have been played at a different tournament. Stosur's game, especially her serve, collapsed, and in no time, Dementieva had taken the set 6-1. Stosur got back into the mix in the third set, but she still made too many errors, and Dementieva won it, 6-3. Stosur double-faulted a total of nine times, which--by recent standards--isn't so terrible, but it hurt her.

In the second quarterfinal match, the bright run of Lucie Safarova ended when a near-perfect Serena Williams (who has qualified for the Sony Ericsson Championships) was just too good at everything she did, effectively shutting Safarova out of the match. In under an hour, Williams won the match, 6-2, 6-3, losing a total of five points on her serve.

Dementieva and Williams will compete against each other in the semifinals.

Safarova continues her great run in Toronto

If you are a fan of Lucie Safarova, I feel for you. As a big fan of a notable left-handed under-achiever, I know how frustrating the experience is. Safarova has a great deal of tennis talent, but it is hard for her to string together victories. Suddenly, in Toronto this week, she's found her groove. First she took out Kaia Kanepi, then Ana Ivanovic, and today she defeated the formidable Zheng Jie.

It was an interesting day. Both Bondarenkos went out, but not without fighting. (After all, they're the Fighting Bondarenkos.) Alona fought the wind, then she fought her coach. She fought Serena Williams, too, but even Bondarenko's considerable second set boost couldn't get her to a third set. Kateryna gave Agnieszka Radwanska a harder fight, in a match that held an unexpected momentum swing in the second set. However, Radwanska prevailed, 7-5, 6-3.

In the battle of the hard hitters, Alisa Kleybanova defeated Aravane Rezai. Sam Stosur easily defeated Virginie Razzano, and Shahar Peer took Elena Dementieva to the edge, but lost.

Maria Sharapova upset 7th seed Vera Zvonareva in a match in which Zvonareva showed all of her trademark frustration, especially in the first set, when she just couldn't seem to do anything right. Sharapova took that set 6-2, with Zvonareva holding her serve only once. Zvonareva then began the second set by double-faulting four times in a row, which is a bit extreme even for these days of double-faulting 17 times in a match.

Zvonareva had the trainer wrap her ankle during the match. She also pulled herself together, and the second set contained moments of brilliant shot-making by both players. A few of the rallies were breathtaking, in fact. Sharapova--whose serve has suddenly improved--won, 6-2, 7-6. Both Russians are on the comeback path, and here's hoping that both of them continue to improve. (If anyone knows whether Vera has split with Sam Sumyk or whether she just had a substitute coach in Toronto, please let me know.)

Finally, there was the battle of the straddle. Wild card Kim Clijsters and 5th seed Jelena Jankovic, two of the best and most flexible movers around, took to the court quite late because of this evening's hour-and-a-half rain delay. Clijsters took the first set easily, but Jankovic bounced back and took the second. Serving at 3-4 in the third, Jankovic saved four break points before finally getting broken. Clijsters, serving for the match, immediately went down 0-30, and was soon broken. Jankovic held, then broke again, and went on to win the match 1-6, 6-3, 7-5.

Kirilenko retires with knee injury

Marie Kirilenko retired in the second set of her second round match against Lucie Safarova today in Monterrey. Kirilenko suffered a left knee inflammation, so Safarova, with a score of 6-4, 4-1, moved on to the next round.

Also advancing to the quarterfinals were Li Na, Gisela Dulko and Zheng Jie.

Phenom flashback

What's next for Victoria Azarenka?

Not that many years ago, all eyes were on a fifteen-year-old named Nicole Vaidisova. She could hit the ball hard and she had some talent. Many people expected great things from her, but now her name is barely mentioned; she is number 65 in the world. We were also watching the very talented Lucie Safarova, who turned out to be streakier than a kindergarten drawing, and is now number 50 in the world.

A couple of years ago, we watched some more players with great interest: Tamira Paszek, Agnieszka Radwanska and Agnes Szavay. Some of us also had our eyes on Caroline Wozniacki and Alize Cornet. Paszek has had her share of problems, and is currently ranked number 70. Szavay has been going out in the first round at most tournaments for several months now; her current ranking of 29 may soon look good if she doesn't change something soon.

The others have done better. Cornet, perhaps the most watchable of all of them, is number 11 in the world, but shows signs of significant mental weakness. She is still young, and can overcome that. If she does, I think she can have a very nice career. World number 12 Wozniacki, like Cornet, is a fiery player who has impressed many of us. She, too, should have a very nice career.

World number 10 Radwanska is a little harder to read. Radwanska is a very fine court thinker who can hit deadly accurate groundstrokes. But she tends to fold when she faces players who give her a lot of variety, such as Patty Schnyder and Amelie Mauresmo. Radwanska will have to learn how to handle these players (though--sadly--there are not many of them) if she is to improve.

That leaves Azarenka. For a time, Azarenka got into finals and lost them. She did that four times, in fact. Then she won Brisbane, and now she seems like a different player; now she has belief. Her performance at the Australian Open, unfortunately terminated by illness, was excellent. She just won Memphis, and did so by handily defeating Wozniacki.

Any of the above-named women could still break through in a big way, and it wouldn't surprise me. Players do things in their own time. But right now, the one who looks more and more like the real thing every day is Azarenka.

Safarova wins Forest Hills

Lucie Safarova has defeated Peng Shuai, 6-4, 6-2, to take the Forest Hills Tennis Classic title. Both finalists were unseeded in a tournament with only sixteen entrants and four seeds. Peng took out the top seed, Pauline Parmentier, in the first round.

Peng and Safarova to meet in Forest Hills final

Peng Shuai defeated Carla Suarez Navarro today in Forest Hills, 6-1, 6-2, and Lucie Safarova defeated Iveta Benesova, 6-2, 6-4. Both finalists are unseeded, and will play the final tomorrow.

Wozniacki upsets Kirilenko

The unpredictable Maria Kirilenko was emphatically eliminated from the Pacific Life Open today by the talented Caroline Wozniacki, 6-2, 6-0. Wozniacki's serve was definitely on, giving her high first serve percentages and a second service point win record of 80%. She never gave Kirilenko a break point.

Another big winner was Ashley Harkleroad, who beat Lucie Safarova, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4. Both women had trouble with their second serves, and each woman double-faulted ten times.

In doubles, sixth-seeded Peng Shuai and Sun Tiantian were upset by Dinara Safina and Elena Vesnina, 4-6, 6-1, 10-4, in the first round. Peng and Sun won the Bangalore Open last week.

Scattering seeds

Lucie Safarova (seed number 22), who sustained a gluteal muscle strain in Sydney and had to retire in the second round, is out of the Australian Open. She was defeated by Catalina Castano, 6-1, 6-4, and my best guess (I did not see the match) was that the injury was at least somewhat involved involved in this loss.

Sixteenth seed Dinara Safina was also eliminated during the first round, by Sabine Lisicki of Germany, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2. Lisicki is ranked number 194 in the world.

And finally, the ever-baffling Marion Bartoli, seeded number 10, lost to Sofia Arvidsson, 6-7, 6-4, 6-3. Arvidsson, who has struggled a lot in the past couple of years, has been doing rather well in 2008.

And the injuries just keep coming

This time, it's Lucie Safarova, who gave Justine Henin at walkover in their second round in Sydney because of a strained right gluteal muscle.

It's also Jelena Dokic, who now does not have to worry about whether to stay in Hobart or go to Melbourne. She retired with an ankle sprain during the first set of her second round match against Flavia Pennetta.