Dementieva to play Bammer in Malaysian Open semifinal

Paris champion Elena Dementieva, seeded first in Kuala Lumpur, will play 6th seed Sybille Bammer in the semifinals. Dementieva defeated 7th seed Magdalena Rybarikova in the quarterfinals, and Bammer defeated Chang Kai-Chen. Bammer has just returned to the tour after she sustained a shoulder injury.

The other semifinal will feature 4th seed Alisa Kleybanova and the unseeded Ayumi Morita. Kleybanova won her quarterfinal match against Anastasia Rodionova, and Morita defeated Chanelle Scheepers. Neither Kleybanova nor Morita has ever competed in a tour final.

Sharapova and Clijsters advance in Toronto

My favorite tennis moment today came when Sybille Bammer--having just broken Maria Sharapova and gotten to 40-0 on her own serve--hit a ball out and brought the score to deuce. "Oh, stop it!" the commentator yelled, and I had to laugh, because that's exactly what I was thinking. There were nine breaks of serve in the match, six of them occurring in the second set. Bammer received a standing ovation when she left the court--she fought hard--but really, she had multiple opportunities to be victorious. Instead, Sharapova won, 6-3, 7-6. She double-faulted 17 times, which appears to be the new number for double-faulting frenzies.

There were several upsets in the second round today. In addition to Dinara Safina and Flavia Pennetta, 8th seed Caroline Wozniacki and 9th seed Victoria Azarenka were also defeated. Zheng Jie defeated Wozniacki 7-5, 6-3, and wild card Kim Clijsters defeated Azarenka 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. 11th seed Ana Ivanovic was defeated by qualifier Lucie Safarova, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Also upset was 16th seed Dominika Cibulkova. Alisa Kleybanova, saving six match points, defeated her 6-1, 4-6, 7-6.

Patty Schnyder gave 5th seed Jelena Jankovic a hard time, but Jankovic prevailed, 7-5, 6-4.

In doubles, 5th-seeded Hsieh Su-wei and Peng Shuai were upset by Akgul Amanmuradova and Alla Kudryavtseva, 4-6, 7-6, 10-5.

Jankovic and Dementieva ease through to semifinals in Cincinnati

Caroline Wozniacki had a very bad day today in Cincinnati, winning only a third of her first serve points against Elena Dementieva. 8th-seeded Wozniacki won only one game on her serve in a match number 4 seed Dementieva easily won, 6-2, 6-1.

Sybille Bammer had even worse success with her second serve, winning only 18%. The first set of her quarterfinal match against Jelena Jankovic sent Bammer back to the snack bar--this time, for some cream cheese. It took Jankovic just over an hour to win, 6-0, 6-3.

5th-seeded Jankovic will play Dementieva in the semifinals. Jankovic has a 6-3 record against Dementieva, and 5-2 record against her on hard courts.

The other semifinal match will feature world number 1 Dinara Safina and 14th seed Flavia Pennetta. Safina is 6-0 against Pennetta in tour matches.

Miscellany

Monica Seles will play an exhibition match at the Rogers Cup event.

Sybille Bammer now has a 2-0 career record against Serena Williams.

65% of Eurosport website poll respondents believe that Kim Clijsters can win another major.

You can now download and install a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour toolbar.

Nancy Griffin, a resident of Raleigh, North Carolina, wins matches against men, so men refuse to play her.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands is wearing tube socks again!

Overheard at Cincinnati snack bar: "I want what Sybille's having"

Having already taken out both Zheng Jie and Agnieszka Radwanska, Sybille Bammer extended her Cincinnati run today by upsetting 2nd seed Serena Williams. I saw very little of this match; Williams made a lot of unforced errors--47, to be exact--and Bammer held forth quite well. She had to serve for the match twice, but she prevailed at 7-5, 6-4. The word is that Williams was ill today, which certainly would have affected her level of play.

Also continuing her good run was Kim Clijsters, who defeated 6th seed Svetalana Kuznetsova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Victoria Azarenka double-faulted 11 times (what is it with all the double faulting?) in her match against 5th seed Jelena Jankovic, who won the match 7-5, 7-6. Daniela Hantuchova defeated Vera Zvonareva, and Elena Dementieva defeated Sorana Cirstea.

Caroline Wozniacki won her third round match against Melinda Czink when Czink retired with a lower back injury. Czink upset Ana Ivanovic in the second round.

And finally, top seed Dinara Safina defeated Peng Shuai in straight sets to advance to the quarterfinals.

Bammer continues her winning ways in Cincinnati

Yesterday, Sybille Bammer took out Zheng Jie out of competition in the first round of the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. To top it off, today, she upset 13th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-0, 7-5. I didn't see any of this coming. Bammer's next challenge will be Serena Williams.

As for Venus Williams, her next challenge will be rival Flavia Pennetta, who defeated Agnes Szavay today. The Woz women had another go at it today, too, with Caroline coming out the winner in three sets. Melinda Czink defeated 11th seed Ana Ivanovic, and Kim Clijsters moved to the third round by defeating Patty Schnyder.

In doubles, there were two upsets today. 3rd seeds Hsieh and Peng were defeated by Dushevina and Rodionova, and 4th seeds Pennetta and Raymond were defeated by Kleybanova and Makarova.

I miss the pairing of Chan and Chuang, and now it looks as though the team of Yan and Zheng has split, also. I don't have any information about the dissolution of these teams, however.

Bammer, Bondarenkos win in Prague

2nd seed Sybille Bammer defeated top seed Francesca Schiavone today, 7-6, 6-2, to take the 2009 ECM Prague Open title. Because of rain, both the semifinals and finals in singles had to be played today. In the semifinals, Schiavone stopped the run of Timea Bacsinszky, and Bammer defeated Iveta Benesova. This is Bammer's second Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title.

The 2nd seeds also defeated the top seeds in doubles. Alona and Kateryna Bondarenko defeated Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1, 6-2 to take the Prague title.

Pavlyuchenkova and Ivanovic go to the semifinals

Who hits thirty-three winners in a two-set match? Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova does. The match between the young Russian and Agnieszka Radwanska left much to be desired, but it was hard not to appreciate Pavlyuchenkova's free-swinging success. She had to serve for the first set a second time, after an unforced error caused her to lose her first chance to close. Radwanska made it easier for her, however, by losing her characteristic precision, and Pavlyuchenkova took the match, 7-6, 6-4. "She looks like she doesn't want to be there," a commentator said, but commentators have said that before about Radwanska; she has almost no affect, even at the best of times, a la Evert.

There was one amusing interlude during a second set changeover, when the chair umpire told Pavlyuchenkova she wasn't sure what word Pavlyuchenkova had said on court, but she was pretty sure it was one of the forbidden ones. She told Pavlyuchenkova not to say it--whatever it was--again.

Pavlyuchenkova will play defending champion Ana Ivanovic in the semifinals. Ivanovic got a walkover when her quarterfinal opponent, Sybille Bammer, withdrew because of a shoulder injury. Bammer has done some fancy serving this week, and it may have just been too much for her.

Defending champion moves on, former champion goes home

It wasn't much fun to watch Ana Ivanovic and Flavia Pennetta play their fourth round match in Indian Wells last night. No matter whom you wanted to win, you were bound to feel frustrated. Ivanovic was again having trouble with her serve, and making errors right and left. Pennetta was not her usual aggressive self, for some reason, and she, too, had chronic service problems.

Nor was it all bad. Ivanovic use her forehand masterfully to destroy Pennetta's weak second serves, and Pennetta used drop shots, lobs and passing shots to befuddle Ivanovic. The momentum shifts were extreme. Ivanovic went up 4-0 in the first set, only to have Pennetta win three games in a row. The service breaks--a total of fifteen--continued throughout the match, and each set began with a break (Pennetta went up 3-0 right away in the second). In the third set, Pennetta saved two match points on her own serve, but then tossed a sure-thing passing shot into the net, giving Ivanovic a third match point, which was the magic one for the defending champion.

I was not able to watch the match between former champion Daniela Hantuchova and Sybille Bammer, but a quick look at the stats told me everything I needed to know: Bammer's service game was outstanding, and Hantuchova's was horrible.

In other fourth round matches: Li Na saved four match points, but still lost to Vera Zvonareva, Urszula Radwanska was almost overcome by the heat, not to mention very questionable line calls; she lost to Caroline Wozniacki. Nuria Llagostera Vives retired with a hip strain, giving the match to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Top seed Dinara Safina won a spirited contest between her and Jill Craybas, Victoria Azarenka won a close match against Shahar Peer, and Agnieszka Radwanska won a three-setter (6-0 in the first) against Agnes Szavay.

The quarterfinals:

Safina vs. Azarenka
Zvonareva vs. Wozniacki
Ivanovic vs. Bammer
Radwanska vs. Pavlyuchenkova

Bammer upsets Bartoli at U.S. Open

I got to see only parts of this match, but I do know that--once again--Marion Bartoli had to take a medical break because of her back, and because of what appeared to be cramping. She had to have her blood pressure checked, I know. I have written many times about my fear that Bartoli's father/coach over-trains her. I maintain that position.

All the same, Bartoli, the 12th seed, did pretty well, but in the end, she lost to the 29th-seeded Sybille Bammer in a really lopsided score: 7-6, 0-6, 6-4.

Meanwhile, Elena Dementieva took an easy lead over Li Na, saw it evaporate into a small lead, but took the first set, anyway, and cruised through the second. Li is moving and hitting better than ever, but she had too many unforced errors to win this match. Dementieva def. Li, 7-5, 6-2

Because I was on the road, I missed the match between Jelena Jankovic and Caroline Wozniacki. Wozniacki took the first set, and Jankovic said she plotted a strategy for the second set: Be more aggressive on one side, hit harder on the other, and put more spin on the ball. It worked. Jankovic def. Wozniacki, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1

Finally, Patty Schnyder overcame Katarina Srebotnik, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Schnyder is now 4-1 against Srebotnik.

Bammer has a back problem

Ever since the Pacific Life Open, Sybille Bammer has had to have two hours of treatment a day on her back. Ouch.

What has happened to Sybille Bammer?

During the last part of the 2007 season, Sybille Bammer raised her game to a higher level, and gave us all a look at what we thought would be a great 2008 season for her. But so far this season, with the exception of her win over Svetlana Kuznetsova in Doha, she has had a bad time of it. Just last week, Anastasia Rodionova defeated Bammer in the second round of the Bangalore Open, and today, Chan Yung-Jan defeated her 6-1, 6-3 in the second round of the Pacific Life Open.

Bammer will now drop out of the top 20, which isn't something I expected to happen.

Getting upset in Bangalore

It happened to Sybille Bammer, who was defeated in the second round by Anastasia Rodionova,
7-5, 6-2. It happened to Agnes Szavay, too: She was beaten in the second round by Akgul Amanmuradova, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.

And in doubles, it happened to the Williams sisters, who lost to Peng Shuai and Sun Tiantian, 5-7, 6-2, 11-9

Wickmayer continues her campaign

During Fed Cup play, Belgium's Yanina Wickmayer defeated both Kateryna and Alona Bondarenko, creating a tight contest between Belgium and Ukraine. Now Wickmayer has taken Peng Shuai out of the first round of the Proximus Diamond Games, 6-0, 6-4.

Also out is number 5 seed Sybille Bammer, who was defeated 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 by Yaroslava Shvedova. And Karin Knapp defeated Nathalie Dechy, 7-6, 6-4.

Davenport, Golovin and Bammer exit

Aravane Rezai defeated Tatiana Golovin in the second round of the Australian Open

Though not seeded, it is nevertheless news that Lindsay Davenport was handily taken out of the Australian Open in the second round by a blazing Maria Sharapova. I did not get to see the match, but my understanding is that Sharapova made Davenport move a lot, and movement has always been Davenport's downfall. Final score: Sharapova def. Davenport, 6-1, 6-3.

The 13th seed, Tatiana Golovin, was taken out of competition by her countrywoman, the hard-hitting Aravane Rezai, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Rezai has had her share of troubles the last couple of years, but so far, is having a very nice 2008 season. Golovin--who became fitter and much more skillful under the tutelage of Mats Wilander--was certainly expected to advance much farther than the second round.

Meanwhile, Sybille Bammer, the 19th seed, fell hard to qualifier Hsieh Su-wei, winner of the gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games. Final score: 6-2, 6-0

Petrova out in first round--again

Having made a first-round exit from the Mondial Women's Hardcourts tournament this past week, Nadia Petrova accepted a last-minute wild card to play in Sydney. But she wasn't able to stick around there very long, either. Sybille Bammer defeated her, 7-5, 6-3. Two first-round exits in two consecutive tournaments may be disastrous for Petrova, who is already feeling shaky about her career.

Phenoms serve notice in first round of Kremlin Cup

Both Agnieszka Radwanska and Victoria Azarenka announced themselves in the first round of the Kremlin Cup today by taking out Maria Kirilenko and Sybille Bammer, respectively. Both Kirilenko and Bammer have enjoyed increased success lately, so these wins are especially significant.

In the second round, Radwanska will get the winner of the Mauresmo-Zvonareva match, and Azarenka will face Maria Sharapova.

Just in case you didn't hear it the first 500 times...

Sybille Bammer is a mother.

How can she stay up past ten at night?! Her "boyfriend" travels with her. There goes "mom!"

All the commentators need to shut up about Bammer's parenthood, but Tracy Austin in particular needs to find something else to talk about. Perhaps she can do some homework about Lleyton Hewitt or Max Mirnyi or Fabrice Santoro and talk nonstop about their parenthood. All those children--how do they do it?

Half of remaining draw in to round of 16

- Get Your Own

Though it was no surprise to some of us, Sybille Bammer upset her way into the round of 16 by defeating Elena Dementieva, 6-1, 6-2. Bammer has really raised her game this summer, and though I was a bit surprised by the scoreline, I wasn't surprised by the result. Most of the matches were two-setters, though it took Jelena Jankovic three sets to ward off Alize Cornet, and it took Marion Bartoli her usual three sets to defeat always-tough Lucie Safarova.

Tomorrow's third round is the round of phenoms: Nadia Petrova faces Agnes Szavay, Martina Hingis plays Victoria Azarenka, Patty Schnyder has to contend with Tamira Paszek, and Maria Sharapova gets Agnieska Radwanska. How many phenoms will make it to the round of 16?

Today, New Haven is Upset City

Eleni Daniilidou of Greece defeated number 7 seed Sybille Bammer today in New Haven

Agnes Szavay, who won her first WTA Tour tournament last month in Palermo, took out Pilot Pen Tennis number 2 seed Daniela Hantuchova today, 6-5, 6-3. I saw the first set on television, and Hantuchova's serve just was not there for her.

Number 7 seed Sybille Bammer, who has been playing really well lately, was defeated by Eleni Daniilidou, 1-6, 7-5, 6-2. Daniilidou is a talented player who has never come close to meeting her potential, but lately, she has been on an upswing, for some reason.

Next up for Szavay is Alona Bondarenko, a player whose career I follow, and who took out Sania Mirza today, 6-3, 0-6, 6-3. And next up for Daniilidou is 4th seed Dinara Safina.