Two top seeds out of Dubai in the 3rd round

Caroline Wozniacki and Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded 1 and 2 at the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships, both went out today in the third round of play. A resurgent Shahar Peer defeated Wozniacki, 6-2, 7-5, and Kuznetsova was upset by countrywoman Regina Kulikova, 5-7, 7-6, 6-4. Kulikova, ranked number 99 in the world, stuck it out with the world number 4 for over three hours and sixteen minutes.

An injured Flavia Pennetta lost to Agnieszka Radwanska, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets, and 6th seed Jelena Jankovic was upset, 6-3, 6-2, by 12th seed Vera Zvonareva. Zvonareva did everything right, including putting on the kind of down-the-line exhibition we used to see from Jankovic. She was dominant throughout most of the match.

What has happened to JJ? Losing a first set never used to mean that much with her, but she has lost her edge, and is making errors she never used to make. She has returned to the Bollettieri Academy, where I hope they can put her back together. I miss the Jankovic who could turn so many defensive shots into offensive points, and who stretched and slid her way to so many victories.

Here is the quarterfinal draw:

Shahar Peer vs. Li Na
Venus Williams vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Vera Zvonareva vs. Victoria Azarenka
Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Regina Kulikova

Australian Open miscellany

Defending champion Serena Williams has never lost in the first round of a major. She won her 41st major tournament first round today.

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova and Regina Kulikova have broken an Australian Open record. Their first round match lasted 4 hours and 18 minutes, making it the longest women's match in tournament history. It should be noted, however, that the match was played in pieces because of rain delays.

I think JJ's Australian Open dress is fabulous.

The threat to move the Australian Open out of Melbourne is gone. Tournament officials have signed a $363 million contract to re-develop the tournament complex. The contract guarantees that the tournament will stay in Melbourne at least until 2036.

Anne Keothavong, who has to sit this Australian Open out, picks Serena Williams to win, and her second pick is Kim Clijsters.

Wimbledon miscellany

If you haven't already done so, check out the Wimbledon website's new "Visual Match" feature, which enables you to graphically analyze what happened in a given match.

Sue Mott interviews Serena Williams for the BBC, and the interview is worth watching ("I'm a little crazy; I wouldn't want to date me").

Here is a profile of Regina Kulikova, the Russian qualifier who defeated 27th seed Alisa Kleybanova in the second round.

Simon Reed says Serena Williams is the best tennis player in the world, and she will win the Wimbledon title.

Judy Murray, former Scottish women's champion and mother of Andy Murray, is leaving the Lawn Tennis Association and creating her own tennis academy. Murray is reportedly fed up with the LTA's failure to produce winning players.