WTA Feb 20-26: Dubai, Memphis & Bogota Dubai Tennis Champ's, Dubai, UAE Tier II $1,000,000 - 28 players - outdoor: hard - Dubai Tennis Stadium Live Scores - WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - match notes .html: draw - schedule - photos: Yahoo! - WTA - sound bytes Dubai: weather - sat pic - map # 2 Amelie Mauresmo, # 3 Lindsay Davenport # 4 Maria Sharapova, # 5 Justine Henin-Hardenne Kroger St. Jude, Memphis, TN Tier III $190,000 - 30 players - indoor: hard - Racquet Club of Memphis Live Scores - WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - match notes Memphis: radar - forecast - sat pic - map - C. Appeal: Tennis #13 Nicole Vaidisova, #22 Anna-Lena Groenefeld #45 Sofia Arvidsson, #47 Laura Granville Copa Colsanitas, Bogota, COL Tier III $170,000 - 30 players - outdoor: red clay Club Campestre El Rancho Live Scores - WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - match notes draws, .html - schedule - photo gallery - video Yahoo news photos - Bogota: weather - sat pic #16 Flavia Pennetta, #30 Gisela Dulko #39 Nuria Llagostera Vives, #37 Catalina Castaño

Tourney pages: Dubai, Memphis & Bogota: 2007 Dubai: 2005 - Memphis & Bogota: 2005 previous other tourney pages next Dubai: #4 Maria Sharapova 6' 1½", 130lbs, RH, 2H-BH Dubai: #5 Justine Henin-Hardenne 5' 5¾", 126lbs, RH, 1H-BH

    On Saturday in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, 23-year-old 4th-seeded # 5 Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco) defeated 18-year-old 3rd-seeded # 4 Maria Sharapova of Russia (residence: Bradenton, Florida) 7-5, 6-2 (photos shown).
    It was Justine's 25th WTA singles title (including 4 Grand Slam tourney titles), and the third time she has won the Dubai tourney, where she is undefeated, 12-0.

    Maria broke Justine's serve to take a 5-3 lead in the 1st set. Then Maria faded, as Justine won the next four games, and ten of the next twelve. Justine said: "I think it was high quality, especially in the first set. Both of us were playing well. Maria put a lot of pressure on myself, especially from the beginning to 5-3. I was a little bit too far from my baseline, but as soon as I put one step forward and maybe tried to play a little bit more in the centre she didn't have the angles...
    "It's an amazing feeling. It's great, because I didn't know really what to expect before coming here after my health problems in Australia. It's been a tough week even though I won all my matches in two sets. It's been pretty hard with the rain and the waiting, and it's a great feeling to have two victories already this year, and that gives a lot of confidence." Reuters story

    On Friday, Maria defeated Martina Hingis in the rain-delayed quarterfinals, and Lindsay Davenport in the semifinals. She may be the only player ever to have defeated both former # 1s Lindsay and Martina on the same day.
    Maria said: "I played great tennis this week. It was a tremendous effort for me to be able to play two really tough matches yesterday and still play a high level of tennis today. In the first set it was just one or two balls didn't go my way, I guess, and then after that I was physically tired from yesterday."

    This was the first time that Justine has defeated Maria in straight sets on a hardcourt. Justine now leads Maria 4-1 in career matches. Maria won the first time they met, and Justine all four matches since.
    Both Justine and Maria are "idle" next week, and both will be playing the following four weeks at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells and the NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne (Miami).

    In the Memphis final on Saturday night, 22-year-old 3rd-seeded # 45 Sofia Arvidsson from Halmstad, Sweden, won her first WTA singles title by defeating 20-year-old 6th-seeded # 55 Marta Domachowska from Warsaw, Poland, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3.
    Sofia was playing in her 2nd WTA singles final. Sofia said: "We both have the same styles of play, and she played very well today, but it was just my day. Marta is a nice girl and she wanted to win, but I also wanted to win today." WTA story
    Marta was playing in her 3rd final, and is getting closer to her first title. Marta said: "I am happy that I made it to the final. My first final I only won two games, then my second final I won seven games, now I make it to three sets. Hopefully the next one will be a win for me."

    In the Bogota final on Sunday, 24-year-old 6th-seeded # 62 Lourdes Dominguez Lino from Pontevedra, Spain, also won her first WTA singles title, by defeating just-turned-24-years-old top-seeded # 16 Flavia Pennetta from Milan, Italy, 7-6(3), 6-4.
    The win made Lourdes 1-1 in WTA singles finals (on the ITF circuit she has won 11 singles titles and 32 doubles titles); Flavia is now 3-4 in WTA singles finals.

    (Feb 22, 2006) Brenda Schultz-McCarthy, a former top-10 player who retired in 1999 due to back trouble and is attempting a comeback at age 35, played in the Memphis qualifying. Brenda defeated Cory Ann Avants in the 1st round, but lost in the 2nd round to Vilmarie Castellvi. Brenda also played in the Tokyo Toray Pan Pacific Open qualifying, defeating Cara Black in the 1st round, 7-5, 6-2, but losing in the 2nd to # 101 Saori Obata. 6-3, 7-5. 6' 2" Brenda won seven WTA singles titles during her big-serving (125 mph) career.

Dubai time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) +4 hours (US Pacific Time +12, ET +9).     Memphis time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) -6 hours (= US Central Time, or US Pacific Time +2, ET -1).     Bogota time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) -5 hours (US Pacific Time +3, same as ET).     As in previous years, the Bogota website is a work of art, with lots of info. This Tier III tourney has a far better website than most Tier I tourneys.

Racquet Club of Memphis- click for interactive satellite photo

WTA SCOREBOARD: Dubai, Memphis & Bogota s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? On Monday in Dubai, Maria Sharapova and Lindsay Davenport visited Ski Dubai resort, a big building with lotsa A/C and artificial snow. After a little tennis, the ladies paused for a refreshing hot beverage. Brrr.

Dubai, 1st Rd, Mon-Tue 2:30pm-2pm losers' prize: $6,850 US; points: 1 *#23 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #7 s5 Nadia Petrova RUS 6-4, 6-1 Tue Maria serving up an American Twist to her fellow Muskovite, and Nadia's backhand #11 s6 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #53 Jie Zheng CHN 6-3, 6(7)-7, 6-1 Mon Anastasia leaping into a backhand, Jie's forehand, and Anastasia asking why she cannot finish matches in 2 sets more often (so she can have more time to hang out and sing with her friends at places like the Irish Village, a typical Dubai attraction)     About taking control in the 3rd set, Anastasia said: "When you've played two sets against [Jie] you kind of know her game, and by the third set I was really comfortable playing her. I knew what I had to do before that, but I was a little bit nervous... It was a little bit difficult to close the match today. I've been playing indoors and it was different here, and I was a little bit nervous as well. But I'll settle down...     "Everything is getting better - everything - my life, my shoulder. I'm more happy right now. I want to play now. I want to do my best. Last year I didn't want to play any more. I was stepping on the court thinking when am I going to get off. Now it's different." WTA story - Reuters story #12 s7 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #42 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-4, 6-4 Tue #14 s8 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #59 Na Li CHN 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) Mon Na staring down a forehand, and Daniela's backhand #15 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #102 q Martina Muller GER 6-2, 6-0 Tue Svetlana's strength, her forehand #17 Elena Likhovtseva RUS d #21 Jelena Jankovic SCG 7-5, 7-5 Mon *#31 Lucie Safarova CZE d #26 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-2, 6-3 Mon Lefty Lucie's backhand *#46 Vera Dushevina RUS d #29 Marion Bartoli FRA 6-3, 6-1 Mon Vera after match point *#256 wc Selima Sfar TUN d #32 Vera Zvonareva RUS 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 Tue Selima signing an autograph after the match *#120 q Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #34 Kveta Peschke CZE 6-7(4), 6-3, 7-6(2) Tue *#48 wc Martina Hingis SUI d #38 Sania Mirza IND 6-3, 7-5 Tue Martina's forehand, Sania's backhand, and Martina's backhand     Both ladies played unevenly, and the audience was described as "rowdy." Martina said: "I'm happy to be through, to be honest. It wasn't the greatest match I've played, but I'm through. It felt like a soccer game out there but it didn't really bother me. Maybe in the past I would get annoyed by the crowd but today I just tried to go through it. But I just couldn't find my rhythm, coming from playing indoors. I came here Friday, but it always takes you a couple of matches."     Martina broke Sania's serve four times in the 2nd set, but Sania broke back immediately the first three times. "I felt I had the game under control and whenever I needed it I was able to step it up. I wasn't thinking that I was going to lose the [2nd] set, because I felt [Sania] always had ups and downs. So did I, but every time I needed it I knew I could pressure her."     Martina was a bit slow on the court, and attributed it to overtraining. Martina said: "I came back home after Tokyo and was doing a lot of physical work and conditioning, and I think I overdid it a little bit, and I'm still recovering." Reuters story     Sania said: "Martina is one player I admired, and was really disappointed that she wasn't around when I started playing the Tour. I'm excited to play with her, and I think I played a great match and made her work hard for her points. She's one of the best players who has ever played on the Tour. I felt like I was always trying to catch up, and wasn't able to get out in front, but I stayed with her point for point for much of the match. She's a counter-puncher and I knew I could never win a battle at the baseline with her so I had to try something different." WTA story *#146 q Henrieta Nagyova SVK d #143 q Kyra Nagy HUN 6-2, 6-0 Tue

Dubai, 2nd Rd, Wed 2pm losers' prize: $12,850 US; points: 25 #2 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #146 q Henrieta Nagyova SVK 6-3, 6-1 Amelie's backhand, and Henrieta following a forehand     Amelie said: "I took a little time to adjust out there after two weeks of playing indoors, but it felt good. Ever since winning the Australian Open, I have no pressure and that has added to my confidence. I am not even thinking of a fourth straight title or the world No. 1 ranking." AP story #3 s2 Lindsay Davenport USA d #17 Elena Likhovtseva RUS 6-0, 6-0 Lindsay's backhand     It was the 4th double-bagel win of Lindsay's career. Lindsay said: "You see the draw, and I thought Elena was a tough opponent to get for my first match, so I took it obviously quite seriously. She has the ability to play really well and I didn't want to mess around. I was really concentrated and knew I wanted to get off to a good start and I was able just to roll with it."     "It obviously doesn't happen often and two major factors have to happen. One has to play really well and the other has to have a really off day." Reuters story #4 s3 Maria Sharapova RUS d #46 Vera Dushevina RUS 6-1, 6-0 Maria serving, Vera's backhand volley, and Maria chipmunking a backhand drive and chasing a forehand #5 s4 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #120 q Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 6-4, 7-5 Justine's formally flawless backhand volley, Kateryna's backhand drive, and Justine looking relieved after match point *#48 wc Martina Hingis SUI d #11 s6 Anastasia Myskina RUS 6-4, 6-3 Martina's forehand, Martina lunging to volley a forehand, Anastasia waiting to swat a forehand at that pesky Hingis girl, and Martina answering a dropshot, probably with another dropshot     Martina played far better than she had in the 1st round on Tuesday. Martina said: "The key really was the first game. I was down 40-15 and came back winning. I think because I won the first game it showed [Anastasia] I'm here, I'm ready, I'm prepared and you have to earn your points...     "I'm into my fifth tournament... I've shown that I can still play and I don't look at it as a comeback now. It's the second period of my career, and now I just look at myself as a player the same as anybody else. I still haven't played most of the other players and it's still like being a rookie. But everyone's seen me, everyone knows I can play. They know they have to play well against [me], and if they don't, I win." #12 s7 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #256 wc Selima Sfar TUN 6-2, 6-3 Francesca chasing a forehand *#15 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #14 s8 D Hantuchova SVK 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 no photos available #23 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #31 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-4, 6-3 no photos available Maria was amused by those silly reporters after the match

Dubai, QFs, Thu 2pm-Rain-Fri 10:30am WTA story losers' prize: $24,065 US; points: 49 Elena Likhovtseva & Svetlana Kuznetsova tried bailing out Centre Court, but Thursday's sessions were sunk anyway *#15 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #2 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 7-6(11), 6-4 Thu-rain-Fri Svetlana after unleashing a flying forehand, and Amelie's backhand     The match had been stopped by rain on Thursday with Amelie ahead 3-2 in the 1st set tiebreaker. Svetlana won the tiebreak on her 5th set point, 13-11. Amelie broke Svetlana and took a 3-0 lead in the 2nd set, but Svetlana broke back.     Amelie said: "Even if I was 3-0 I didn't really feel in control because I felt she was making some errors. To come back and break me I thought [Svetlana] played pretty well, very consistent and very aggressive, and not making as many errors as at the beginning of that set." Reuters story     Svetlana was 0-4 against Amelie in previous matches. Svetlana said: "I felt more confident playing her this time, that's how I was able to win today." #3 s2 Lindsay Davenport USA d #23 Maria Kirilenko RUS 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Fri Maria's forehand, and Lindsay's backhand #4 s3 Maria Sharapova RUS d #48 wc Martina Hingis SUI 6-3, 6-4 Fri Maria's forehand, and Martina & Maria launching backhands     Maria said: "It's important to be aggressive, especially against someone who takes the ball on the rise and wants to attack your balls. It's important for me to make sure I was playing my own game. I was trying to go for my shots and do my best. Even if they missed by a few centimeters, I was still trying to stay positive."     Martina said: "I probably wasn't as concentrated as last time, but [Maria] played well. Today I think was just lack of patience pretty much, and that's why I came up short at the end. There were so many opportunities and you can't allow someone like her to come back into the game. I had so many game points, break points, and couldn't finish them."     "I started off well and finished well, but made too many errors in the middle. I had some success at the net, maybe I should have tried this more often. It's definitely tough playing a lot of matches in the space of a few days. I have to work hard on my ranking so that I can get seeded again and start getting the byes like I used to. [Maria] definitely played well-- hardcourt suits her-- but I'm already looking forward to the next time we play." #5 s4 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #12 s7 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-4, 7-6(5) Fri Justine's forehand

Dubai, SFs, Fri WTA story losers' prize: $45,150 US; points: 88 rain delayed play *#4 s3 Maria Sharapova RUS d #3 s2 Lindsay Davenport USA 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 Maria and Lindsay running down forehands, and Maria's backhand     Lindsay said: "It was a pretty up and down match. I think I got off to a great start but really fell back in the second set. It was a tough day for everyone with the rain delays and having to play two matches. [Maria] was the stronger player today." Lindsay had defeated Maria's good friend, # 23 Maria Kirilenko, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in their rain-postponed QF earlier on Friday.     The win put Maria in her first WTA final since last June. Maria said: "It was a very tough match, but I feel good that I could go out under these conditions, and not play my best, and still come out with a win."     Maria had pulled off an unusual two-fer. Earlier on Friday, Maria defeated Martina Hingis in their quarterfinal, also postponed from Thursday due to rain, 6-3, 6-4, and she may be the only player ever to have defeated both former # 1s Lindsay and Martina on the same day. #5 s4 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #15 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-2, 7-5 Justine preparing to slice a backhand, Svetlana running one down, and Justine after match point     Justine said: "I'm still not feeling 100 percent, but I'm pleased with how I fought tonight. I played well on the big points and I'm proud of that."

Dubai, Final, Sat 7pm loser's prize: $84,500 US; points: 137 winner's prize: $159,000 US; points: 195 *#5 s4 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #4 s3 Maria Sharapova RUS 7-5, 6-2 Justine's forehand, Maria using her occasional left-handed forehand, and Justine after match point

Dubai, Doubles Final, Sat losers' prize: $26,280 US winners' prize: $49,300 US cdr49 Kveta Peschke & Francesca Schiavone d cdr49 Svetlana Kuznetsova & Nadia Petrova 3-6, 7-6, 6-3 Francesca looking on as Kveta prepares to send a backhand to Russia, and both ladies with teapots after the match Dubai, Qual Finals, Mon Feb 20 12:30pm losers' prize: $3,650 US *#146 Henrieta Nagyova SVK d #78 Zi Yan CHN 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 *#143 Kyra Nagy HUN d #82 Maria Vento-Kabchi VEN 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 #102 Martina Muller GER d #110 Tiantian Sun CHN 6-4, 6-1 #120 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #210 Elena Baltacha GBR 7-6(4), 7-6(4) Dubai, Withdrawals #9 Patty Schnyder SUI #10 Venus Williams USA #19 Nathalie Dechy FRA #44 Serena Williams USA #61 Shuai Peng CHN

On Monday in Memphis, TennisSee, former WTA # 8 Anna Kournikova and former WTA # 1 Tracy Austin played mixed doubles in a charity benefit with a couple of ATP guys named Bryan. Anna & Bob defeated Tracy & Mike, 7-6, 7-6.

Memphis, 1st Rd Sun-Tue Memphis Comm. Appeal Tue story loser's prize: $1,300 US; points: 1 *#137 wc Victoria Azarenka BLR d #13 s1 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4 Tue Nicole displaying her displeasure with a line call, and Victoria after match point     Victoria, now 16, had defeated Nicole, also now 16, in the Wimbledon juniors in 2004. Victoria said: "[Nicole] has powerful strokes, but I have played a lot of players with powerful strokes. I believe I am powerful, too. I just tried to stay in for every shot."     Nicole said: "You shouldn't ask what the problem was for me today. The question is 'what was not the problem?' I just made so many mistakes today, so many stupid mistakes... It's disappointing to play so bad after having a good tournament here last year. I'm very comfortable on this surface, and I was hoping for better than this." #22 s2 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #75 Yoon Jeong Cho KOR 6-3, 6-2 Mon #45 s3 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #648 wc Alexandra Stevenson USA 6-2, 6-4 Sun #47 s4 Laura Granville USA d #64 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 6-3, 6-4 Mon *#85 Ashley Harkleroad USA d #51 s5 Samantha Stosur AUS 6-4, 6-3 Mon #55 s6 Marta Domachowska POL d #164 Angela Haynes USA 6-2, 6-0 Tue #56 s7 Amy Frazier USA d #136 Meilen Tu USA 6-2, 6-1 Mon #58 s8 Jill Craybas USA d #117 Sandra Kloesel GER 7-5, 6-1 Tue *#135 Shenay Perry USA d #68 Ekaterina Bychkova RUS 6-3, 7-6(2) Mon #72 Lisa Raymond USA d #269 q Lina Stanciute LTU 6-3, 6-2 Mon *#132 Liliah Osterloh USA d #73 Emma Laine FIN 7-6(2), 6-2 Tue *#231 q Yaroslava Shvedova RUS d #79 Jamea Jackson USA 6-3, 6-1 Mon #NR Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #81 Kristina Brandi PUR 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 Mon #104 Martina Sucha SVK d #161 Tatiana Panova RUS 6-1, 6-0 Sun #111 q Meng Yuan CHN d #129 Varvara Lepchenko UZB 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Mon *#254 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR v #113 Melinda Czink HUN 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 Tue

Memphis, 2nd Rd Tue-Wed 10am Comm. Appeal Wed story loser's prize: $2,200 US; points: 16 *#135 Shenay Perry USA d #22 s2 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 7-6(5), 6-2 Tue #45 s3 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #72 Lisa Raymond USA 6-4, 6-4 Wed     Sofia said: "I played [Lisa] in the Hopman Cup, and I struggled a little bit. She slices the ball, and I don't like that too much. I tried to be more aggressive this time, so she couldn't get to the net as much." #47 s4 Laura Granville USA d #254 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR 6-1, 6-2 Wed #55 s6 Marta Domachowska POL d #104 Martina Sucha SVK 6-3, 6-3 Wed     Marta was glad to get her 2nd straight-set win after a slow start to the year. Marta said: "I had a problem with my confidence. I lost a few matches to players I shouldn't have. I was playing scared. I just needed some time to break this run of bad matches. I was working really hard this winter on my serve, and now I'm starting to have a little more confidence in myself." #56 s7 Amy Frazier USA d #231 q Yaroslava Shvedova RUS 1-6, 6-0, 6-0 Wed     Yaroslava won the first 16 points of the match (4 love games) and 22 of the first 23. Amy said: "I've lost sets 6-0 before, but I was definitely on the verge of not getting a point. [Yaroslava] was playing unbelievably. I couldn't get into a point. She had six or seven aces and hit six or seven winners off my serve. If I got the ball back to her, she hit a winner. Once I was able to get into the points, I was able to get going. I was frustrated because I wanted to play, and I thought I was gonna be off the court in 20 minutes. She started missing a few of the shots she'd been hitting. Once I'm in games, I get a little more confident." #58 s8 Jill Craybas USA d #111 q Meng Yuan CHN 6-4, 6-2 Wed *#NR Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #85 Ashley Harkleroad USA 6-2, 6-3 Tue     Ashley was very impressed with 15-year-old Caroline's play. Ashley said: "On a different surface, I might have played a little better against [Caroline]. But on this indoor surface, she was hitting the ball so deeply that it was hard to do anything with... She's an incredibly good player. She's tall. She has the body of a woman, and she's only 15. I wish I looked like that, and I'm 20 years old. She'll be in the top 50 by the end of the year -- if not higher." #132 Liliah Osterloh USA d #137 wc Victoria Azarenka BLR 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 Wed

Memphis, QFs, Thu 10am Mem. Comm. Appeal story loser's prize: $4,050 US; points: 30 #45 s3 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #NR Caroline Wozniacki DEN 7-5, 6-4 *#55 s6 Marta Domachowska POL d #47 s4 Laura Granville USA 6-4, 6-4 Marta's backhand     Marta is the # 1 player from Poland. About reaching the semis, Marta said: "It's really exciting. If I have to be honest, two months ago they were writing at home that it was over for me and that I won't play any more. But I think I am starting to play good." #56 s7 Amy Frazier USA d #135 Shenay Perry USA 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3)     Amy said: "I knew it was gonna be a good match because [Shenay is] a tough player to play against. She can do so many things with the ball and go from defense to offense so quick. I'm very happy with the way I played today." #58 s8 Jill Craybas USA d #132 Liliah Osterloh USA 6-4, 6-1

Memphis, SFs, Fri loser's prize: $7,700 US; points: 55 #45 s3 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #56 s7 Amy Frazier USA 6-2, 6-2 Amy after a backhand, Sofia following a forehand #55 s6 Marta Domachowska POL d #58 s8 Jill Craybas USA 6-1, 6-0 Marta and Jill launching backhands

Memphis, Final Sat loser's prize: $14,650 US; points: 85 winner's prize: $28,000 US; points: 120 #45 s3 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #55 s6 Marta Domachowska POL 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 Marta preparing to slice a backhand, Sofia driving one, and Sofia after match point and with the glassware

Memphis, Doubles Final, Sat m4 loser's prize: $8,000 US winner's prize: $4,150 US cdr3 s1 Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur d cdr1261 Victoria Azarenka & Caroline Wozniacki 7-6(2), 6-3 Memphis, Qual Finals, Sun Feb 20 10am loser's prize: $650 #111 Meng Yuan CHN d #283 Christina Wheeler AUS 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 #164 Angela Haynes USA d #201 Tiffany Dabek USA 6(6)-7, 6-1, 6-4 #169 Vilmarie Castellvi PUR d #269 Lina Stanciute LTU 1-6, 7-5 *#231 Yaroslava Shvedova RUS d #226 Carly Gullickson USA 6-3, 6-2 Memphis, Withdrawals #52 Michaella Krajicek NED #63 Sybille Bammer AUT #70 Julia Schruff GER #98 Maret Ani EST #103 Hana Sromova CZE #108 Evgenia Linetskaya RUS

Bogota, 1st Rd Mon-Tue Tue WTA story loser's prize: $1,300 US; points: 1 #16 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #130 Katerina Bohmova CZE 6-4, 6-1 Tue Flavia's service toss     Flavia said: "I feel really good here. The people are very friendly, the organization of the tournament is perfect and above all, they make one feel like they are at home." #30 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG v #168 Lioudmila Skavronskaia RUS 6-2, 6-4 Tue #37 s3 Catalina Castaño COL d #388 wc Daniela Munoz MEX 6-2, 6-3 Tue Catalina's backhand     Catalina said: "Coming to my country and playing with a high ranking, with some of my best tennis is a good feeling. I have made changes in my game. I can win more free points with my serve and dictate the points better. And also I have improved my mobility a lot." #54 s4 Emilie Loit FRA d #178 Maria Jose Argeri ARG 6-4, 6-1 Mon #60 s5 Mariana Diaz-Oliva ARG d #96 Eva Birnerova CZE 6-1, 3-0 retired-- bacterial illness Mon #62 s6 Lourdes Domínguez-Lino ESP d #95 Kaia Kanepi EST 7-5, 6-2 Tue *#221 Agnes Szavay HUN d #65 s7 Antonella Serra-Zanetti ITA 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 Mon #71 s8 Maria A Sánchez Lorenzo ESP v #226 q Valentina Sassi ITA 6-3, 6-1 Tue *#214 Natalia Gussoni ARG d #88 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI 6-2, 6-4 Mon *#122 Nathalie Vierin ITA d #90 Laura Pous Tio ESP 64 62 Tue Nathalie's backhand *#124 Bethanie Mattek USA d #94 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 Mon *#179 Ivana Abramovic CRO d #100 Conchita Martínez-Granados ESP 7-6(5), 7-5 Tue #106 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR d #250 wc Paula Garcia ESP 6-3, 6-0 Tue Anastasiya lining up a slice backhand #121 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #277 q Andrea Benítez ARG 7-5, 7-6(1) Tue *#385 wc Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP d #166 Mathilde Johansson FRA 6-3, 6-1 Tue Maria's backhand #317 q Sara Errani ITA d #343 q Neha Uberoi USA 7-6(4), 6-3 Tue

Bogota, 2nd Rd Wed-Thu 10am loser's prize: $2,200 US; points: 16 #16 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #179 Ivana Abramovic CRO 6-0, 7-5 Thu Flavia's forehand #30 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG d #317 q Sara Errani ITA 6-4, 6-3 Wed Gisela delivering her high-topspin forehand, and looking steaming mad (at red dirt?) after match point     Gisela, from Buenos Aries, is unaccustomed to the thin air in 8,700-foot-high Bogota. Gisela said: "After two days of heavy activity I finally felt much less affected by the altitude, and my game picked up." AP story #37 s3 Catalina Castaño COL d #214 Natalia Gussoni ARG 6-3, 6-1 Thu Catalina launching a backhand #54 s4 Emilie Loit FRA d #106 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR 6-0, 6-1 Wed *#121 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #60 s5 Mariana Diaz-Oliva ARG 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 Wed #62 s6 Lourdes Domínguez-Lino ESP d #385 wc Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP 7-5, 6(5)-7, 6-2 Wed Lourdes firing a forehand #71 s8 Maria Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo ESP d #122 Nathalie Vierin ITA 7-5, 7-5 Thu Maria Antonia, who plays 2-handed on both sides, (as do Marion Bartoli, Akiko Morigami, and Monica Seles, among others), swatting a forehand #124 Bethanie Mattek USA d #221 Agnes Szavay HUN 6-1, 6-0 Thu

Bogota, QFs, Fri WTA story loser's prize: $4,050 US; points: 30 #16 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #124 Bethanie Mattek USA 6-3, 6-1 Flavia after match point     Saturday's semis will occur on top-seeded Flavia's 24th birthday.     Flavia said: "I played well, I didn't miss much. I lost my concentration a little at 4-1 in the first set, but overall I am very happy because I played a good match. It was a little easier than I expected, but I knew [Bethanie] was playing well. She had two important victories in her first two rounds, and I was mentally ready for a tough match.     "In this altitude [8700 feet] the balls go really fast, and so it's important to be mentally prepared to play every point with patience. It is a little difficult to play in this altitude but fortunately I fared well, and reached the semifinals." *#121 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #30 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-3 Gisela's forehand, and Ludmilla's backhand *#71 s8 Maria Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo ESP d #37 s3 Catalina Castaño COL 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 Maria's 2-handed forehand, and Catalina's 2-handed backhand *#62 s6 Lourdes Domínguez-Lino ESP d #54 s4 Emilie Loit FRA 7-6(6), 7-5

Bogota, SFs, Sat 11am loser's prize: $7,700 US; points: 55 #16 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #71 s8 Maria Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo ESP 6-1, 6-4 Flavia after match point, and being presented with a cake to celebrate her 24th birthday, upon which she won this semi and the doubles final with Gisela Dulko #62 s6 Lourdes Domínguez-Lino ESP d #121 Ludmila Cervanova SVK 6-1, 6-3

Bogota, Final Sun loser's prize: $14,650 US; points: 85 winner's prize: $28,000 US; points: 120 *#62 s6 Lourdes Domínguez Lino ESP d #16 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA 7-6(3), 6-4 Flavia ready to swat a forehand, Lourdes doing likewise, and Lourdes after match point

Bogota, Doubles Final, Sat loser's prize: $8,000 US winner's prize: $4,150 US cdr46 s1 Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta d cdr140 s2 Agnes Szavay & Jasmin Woehr 7-6(1), 6-1 Bogota, Qual Finals Mon Feb 20 10am loser's prize: $650 #226 Valentina Sassi ITA d #309 Jorgelina Cravero ARG 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 *#317 Sara Errani ITA d #261 Zsofia Gubacsi HUN 4-6, 6-1, 6-0 *#343 Neha Uberoi USA d #262 Tina Schiechtl AUT 6-1, 6-2 #277 Andrea Benítez ARG d #554 Florencia Molinero ARG 6-0, 6-0 Bogota, Withdrawals #39 Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP #114 Maria Emilia Salerni ARG #128 Su-wei Hsiesh TPE #147 Clarisa Fernandez ARG

See also: QuickShop: Sporting Goods
WTA PhotoRankings - Martina Hingis - Anna Kournikova - Tennis Articles - 2006 WTA Schedule and Links

Current WTA Results & Tennis News

You can link to many Real Video postmatch interviews of WTA players from Grand Slam tournaments at the 2006 WTA Player Interviews page.

WTA PhotoRankings:
the current top 20 Women's Tennis rankings with player photos, links, and bio info.