Pavlyuchenkova defends Monterrey title

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, seeded second at the Monterrey Open, defended her 2010 title today by defeating top seed Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. This is Pavlyuchenkova's third WTA title. She is currently ranked number 19 in the world.

The entertaining Czech pair, Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, won the doubles championship. Seeded 1st, Benesova and Zahlavova Strycova defeated 2nd seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King 6-7, 6-2, 10-6. Today's victory is the team's seventh title. Benesova holds a total of eleven doubles titles, and Zahlavova Strycova holds a total of twelve.

Jankovic and Pavlyuchenkova to compete in Monterrey final

Defending champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenko stopped Gisela Dulko's Mexican streak today, defeating her 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals of the Monterrey Open. Dulko, the champion in Acapulco, had won eight straight matches. Pavlyuchenkova, who is seeded 4th in Monterrey, will play top seed Jelena Jankovic in the final. Jankovic defeated Polona Hercog 6-3, 6-2 today.

Top seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova won the second semifinal match today, defeating 3rd seeds Julia Goerges and Polona Hercog 6-4, 6-3. They will compete for the title against 2nd seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King.

Dulko beats Benesova and advances to Monterrey 2nd round

The last four times they have played, Iveta Benesova has defeated Gisela Dulko, but today in Monterrey, the Mexican Open champion had her second-ever win against the Czech player. Dulko served well (as I mentioned in a previous post, she has a great serve, but it isn't always available to her) and defeated 7th-seeded Benesova 6-2, 7-6.

6th seed Sara Errani was also defeated in the first round. Greta Arn took that match 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. Wild card and 2nd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Melanie Oudin. (These two were ranked 1 and 2 as juniors, and have a bit of a history: Pavlyuchenkova was, in fact, Oudin's first Russian victim in her memorable 2008 U.S. Open run.) The Russian player is the defending champion.

Top Monterrey seed Jelena Jankovic also advanced to the second round.

Passing shots

Flavia Pennetta is now co-ranked number 1 in the world in doubles, sharing the spot with partner Gisela Dulko, and achieving yet another "first" for Italian players.

Dinara Safina has won her first match since September. She defeated Han Xinyun 6-2, 6-0 in the first round of the Malaysian Open. Safina's victory broke a six-match losing streak.

Iveta Benesova is blogging from Monterrey.

Can sportswriters and reporters please stop writing "comeback" when they mean "come back" (the verb)?

Qualifier Anne Kremer, who upset Kimiko Date Krumm in the first round of the Malaysian Open, has advanced to the third round.

Aravane Rezai and Julia Goerges were both upset in the opening round of the Monterrey Open.

Laura Robson reports that she's now bowling with her right arm because her lefty spin created too many gutter balls.

Pavlyuchenkova wins her first title

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had to play two matches today in Monterrey. Her semifinal match was postponed yesterday because of rain, so today, she played her semifinal opponent, Anastasija Sevastova, whom she defeated 6-3, 2-6, 6-1. This evening, the 3rd seed faced 2nd seed and wild card Daniela Hantuchova (who defeated Dominika Cibulkova in the semifinals) in the final. Pavlyuchenkova, serving with a first serve win percentage of 83, defeated Hantuchova 1-6, 6-1, 6-0. At one point, Pavlyuchenkova hit three aces in one game.

This is Pavlyuchenkova's first Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title.

One of the doubles semifinal matches had to be postponed, also. Today, top seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King defeated Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci 6-7, 6-3, 10-6. The top seeds were upset in today's final, however. 2nd seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova won the championship, defeating Groenefeld and King 3-6, 6-4, 10-8.

Monterrey matches cancelled because of rain

Daniela Hantuchova defeated Dominika Cibulkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in the semifinals in Monterrey today. However, rain prevented the second semifinal from being played. That match will be contested by Anastaija Sevastova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

Rain also prevented the doubles semifinal match featuring top seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Vania King against Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci.

Unseeded Sevastova goes to Monterrey semifinals

Anastasija Sevastova, who is unseeded, defeated Alize Cornet (also unseeded) in the quarterfinals of the Monterrey Open tonight. Sevastova's 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory gives her an opportunity to compete against 3rd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semifinals. Pavlyuchenkova defeated Klara Zakopalova 6-2, 6-2.

Daniela Hantuchova, a wild card who is seeded 2nd, defeated Vania King 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. Hantuchova will face countrywoman Dominika Cibulkova in the semifinals. 4th seed and wild card Cibulkova defeated 5th seed Agnes Szavay 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Quarterfinals set in Monterrey

Here is the quarterfinal draw for the Monterrey Open:

Anastasija Sevastova vs. Alize Cornet

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova vs. Klara Zakopalova

Agnes Szavay vs. Dominka Cibulkova

Vania King vs. Daniela Hantuchova

Sevastova, Cornet, Zakopalova, and King are all unseeded.

Earth to JJ: Come back

When Jelena Jankovic accepted a wild card entry into the Monterrey Open, it appeared she might have an opportunity to get a confidence boost right before competing in the BNP Paribas Open. But tonight the top seed went out in the first round to Anastasija Sevastova, who defeated her 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Not to take anything away from Sevastova, whose game has apparently improved quite a bit, but this type of loss is just more of the same for the player so many of us thought was so riveting not that long ago. Jankovic used to be able to get just about anything back, and to turn defense into brilliant offense. Her serve needed work, and the irony here is that she actually improved it somewhat, only to see the rest of her game decrease in quality.

Whatever is wrong, here's hoping Jankovic finds a way to fix it, and to regain her confidence. She had a tough 2009, during which she experienced her mother's serious illness and her grandmother's death. Let's hope that the rest of 2010 goes better.

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.

Dokic out in 2nd round of Monterrey qualifying

top qualifying seed Jelena Dokic failed to make it through the second qualifying round of the Monterrey Open today. She was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Kristina Antoniychuk. 2nd qualifying seed Shenay Perry was defeated in the first round by Marie-Eve Pelletier.

Bartoli wins in Monterrey

Taking advantage of Li Na's problems with her second serve, 2nd seed Marion Bartoli won the Monterrey Open in straight sets today. Breaking Li six times, Bartoli took the match, 6-4, 6-3.

In doubles, the victorious team was that of number 4 seeds Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo, who defeated Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3, 6-4.

Bartoli and Li to meet in Monterrey final

Number 2 seed Marion Bartoli defeated number 4 seed Zheng Jie today in Monterrey, 7-5, 6-3, setting up a final between her and Li Na. Li defeated Iveta Benesova, 6-3, 6-3.

Bartoli and Li have never before played one another.

In doubles, Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova will play number 4 seeds Nathalie Dechy and Mara Santangelo. Dechy and Santangelo upset 2nd seeds Vania King and Zheng Jie.

Monterrey semifinals set

Li Na will face Iveta Benesova in the semifinals of the Monterrey Open. Li defeated Lucie Safarova 6-3, 76, and number 6 seed Benesova defeated Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-5, 6-4.

The other two semifinalists are number 4 seed Zheng Jie and 2nd seed Marion Bartoli, who defeated number 7 seed Gisela Dulko (6-3, 6-2), and Vania King (2-6, 6-2, 6-30), respectively.

Pennetta out of Monterrey

3rd seed Flavia Pennetta was defeated yesterday in Monterrey in the second round by Barbaro Zahavova Strycova. Zahavova Strycova and Pennetta played for almost two and half hours, with the Czech player emerging the winner, 7-6, 2-6, 6-4.

Number 2 seed Marion Bartoli advanced, defeating Magdalena Rybarikova, 6-4, 6-0. Also advancing to the quarterfinals were Iveta Benesova and Vania King. King advanced by upsetting 5th seed Agnes Szavay.

Here is the quarterfinal draw:

Li Na vs. Lucie Safarova
Zahlavova Strycova vs. Iveta Benesova
Gisela Dulko vs. Zheng Jie
Vania King vs. Marion Bartoli

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.

Radwanska served a bagel in Monterrey

It is always dangerous to play Li Na on a hard court, even if she has not played in a long time. Tonight, Agnieszka Radwanska learned just how dangerous it can be. Li defeated the top seed 7-6, 4-6, 6-0 in the first round of the Monterrey Open.

The other upset occurred in doubles play: Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova defeated number 3 seeds Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Shahar Peer, 6-4, 7-6.

(And broadcasters, I'm sure, breathed a sigh of relief when Petra Cetkovska and Andreja Klepac defeated Mariya Koryttseva and Alla Kudryavtseva.)

Krajicek into Monterrey main draw

Michaella Krajicek has made it through qualifying and is into the main draw of the Monterrey Open. Krajicek, a wild card in the qualifying rounds, defeated Chanelle Scheepers, Rossana De Los Rios and Mara Santangelo.

Joining Krajicek as qualifiers are Lenka Wienerova, Vania King, and former junior world number 1 Arantxa Rus.

Interesting first rounds in Monterrey

There is still another round of qualifying that has to take place to set the main draw in the Monterrey Open, but--in the meantime--we already have some first round matches worth watching:

Agnieska Radwanska vs. Li Na--Li is still formulating her return to the tour (we say that every year, don't we?), but may nevertheless be a threat to Radwanska on a hard court.

Marina Eraovic vs. Maria Kirilenko--This could easily be a first-round elimination for the Russian.

Gisela Dulko vs. Nathalie Dechy--This has the makings of a very good match, and could easily go to three sets. Both players are streaky, both can be excellent shot-makers.

Melinda Czink vs. Alla Kudryavtseva--Czink has raised her game to another level this year, but may get some trouble from Kudryavtseva.

Urszula Radwanska vs. Zheng Jie--Radwanska recently broke through and defeated her sister, though she is likely to have a harder time defeating Zheng.

Top seed Paszek out of Monterrey qualifying

Tamira Paszek, top qualifying seed at the Monterrey Open and mystery phenom of the Sony Ericsson WTA, was defeated today in the second round of qualifying by Betina Jozami. Jozami did the job impressively, too, recording a score of 6-1, 6-1. Paszek's first serve was successful only 46% of the time, and her second serve was successful only 21% of the time. She was broken five times, and failed to convert any of the twelve break chances she had.

It has been one thing after another with Paszek--coaching changes of a dramatic nature, problems with her father (involving the coaching changes, and--one surmises--other isues, too), injuries, etc. At one time, all eyes were on her, but as she continues to struggle, she is fading from view.