WTA Feb 25-Mar 2: Dubai Tennis Champ's, Dubai, UAE Tier II $1,500,000 28 players - outdoor: hard (DecoTurf) Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - notes pics: Yahoo! - tourney - WTA - videos sound bytes Dubai: weather # 1 J Henin, # 2 S Kuznetsova Cellular South Cup, Memphis, TN Tier III $175,000 32 players - indoor: hard Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP Memphis: weather radar - forecast # 7 V Williams, # 13 T Golovin Abierto Mexicano, Acapulco, MEX Tier III $180,000   + ATP 32 players - outdoor: red clay Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - notes .html: q draw - singles draw - sched pics: Yahoo - tourney - WTA Acapulco: weather radar - forecast # 30 F Pennetta, # 49 A Cornet

Dubai & Memphis: 2007 - 2006   Dubai: 2005 - 2004   Memphis: 2005 - 2004 Acapulco: 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 previous other tourney pages next Acapulco: #30 Flavia Pennetta 5' 7¾" 128lb RH 2H-BH Dubai: #11 Elena Dementieva 5' 11" 141lb RH 2H-BH Memphis: #46 L Davenport 6' 2½" 175lb RH 2H-BH

    On Saturday in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, 26-year-old 8th-seeded # 11 Elena Dementieva from Moscow, Russia, defeated her compatriot, 22-year-old 2nd-seeded # 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 (Elena is shown with teapot).

    Elena said: "I feel so happy. This was my first time at this event and it is such a big win. I think it was a great match and I played probably my best match for a long time...
    "I think in the first set I was playing wrong tactically. I didn't move Svetlana at all. Then I realized I had to play the whole court, I have to move her, I have to be aggressive and go more for the forehand winners." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - mp3 3 - Reuters story - WTA story

    Svetlana said: "I am very disappointed, because I think I got all the chances and all the possibilities today, but I just didn't take them. I was playing within myself and my level was going lower and lower. I don't know, with playing at night, if it was my vision or something, but my level got lower, and Elena just played consistent." mp3 1 - mp3 2

    2004 French Open and US Open finalist Elena is now 9-11 in WTA singles finals, with a 10-3 won-lost record in matches this year. Elena's previous title win was last October, when she won the Tier I Kremlin Cup in her hometown, Moscow.
    2004 US Open champ Svetlana, who also reached the Dubai final in 2004 (d by Justine Henin, 7-6(3) 6-3) is now 9-14 in WTA singles finals; she has a 9-4 match record in 2008. Svetlana won her most recent title at the Tier II Pilot Pen Open in New Haven last August.
    Svetlana still leads Elena 5-4 in career matches, and won their last three meetings before today.

    In the Memphis final on Saturday 31-year-old 4th-seeded # 46 Lindsay Davenport from Laguna Beach, California, handily defeated 19-year-old 5th-seeded # 50 Olga Govortsova from Minsk, Belarus, 6-2, 6-1 (Lindsay is shown with punchbowl).

    Lindsay said: "I served well and dictated the points, which is very important for my game." WTA story
    Olga said: "I knew [Lindsay] served well, but I didn't know she served THAT well. It seemed like she hit two aces in every service game. My first serve wasn't working well and she returns so well, so it was really hard for me to hold. I learned a lot today, so I'll hopefully do better next time I play her. But it has been a good week for me, beating a player like Peer and making my first final."

    Lindsay and Olga had never before met on the field of combat. 1998 US Open, 1999 Wimbledon, and 2000 Australian Open champ Lindsay, now has a 55-38 record WTA singles finals, and a 12-2 match record this season. Olga was playing in her first WTA singles final; she has won 2 ITF singles titles. Olga now has a 6-6 match record in 2008.

    In the Acapulco final on Saturday 26-year-old top-seeded # 30 Flavia Pennetta of Italy (residence: Verbier, Switzerland) defeated 18-year-old 2nd-seeded # 49 Alize Cornet from Nice, France, 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 (Flavia is shown with sombrero and orb).

    Flavia said: "I think I started the match very well, focusing really hard and not making many mistakes, just lots of winners. But in the second set I started thinking about the victory and got a little nervous. I sat down after the second set and thought about what I needed to do to take control of the match again, and I just tried to focus like I did in the first set." WTA story
    Alize said: "[Flavia] played unbelievably in the first set and in the second set she started making some mistakes; I felt I was getting into the match at that point and was fighting in every game, but she played the third set like the first and that's why she won. Maybe she was nervous in the second set, but she recovered. It's disappointing to lose today; I felt pretty far away from the victory. But I think Flavia deserved to win today."

    Flavia also defeated Alize in their only previous meeting, in the QFs at Acapulco last year, 7-5, 6-4. Flavia is now 6-6 in WTA singles finals; she won the Vina del Mar title just 2 weeks ago, and has always done well in Acapulco, where she also won the title in 2005. Alize was playing in her first WTA singles final; she has won 3 ITF singles titles and won the French Open juniors title last year.

Memphis player's blog by Shahar Peer

WTA SCOREBOARD: Dubai, Memphis & Acapulco s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Dubai Tennis Championships,  Dubai, United Arab Emirates       The time in Dubai is UCT (GMT, Zulu...) +4 hours (US PT +12, ET +9). United Arab Emirates news Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Dubai: The main draw for Dubai has 8 seeds, with 4 1st-round byes.     There are 4 qualifiers in the main draw.     Qualifying (3 rounds) starts on Saturday, qualifying finals are on Monday.     click for broader view   Dubai Tennis Stadium at top center Latitude: 25.24243 Longitude: 55.342475 goto link for World Wind 2008: On Monday, Feb 25, in Dubai, top seeds Sveta Kuznetsova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, and Justine Henin were once again perplexed and bemused by those silly reporters odd questions at the Sony-Ericsson All-Access Hour... girls having fun at the Dubai player party on Tuesday included Justine Henin, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ayumi Morita & Ai Sugiyama, and Jelena Jankovic...

Dubai, 1st Rd, Mon-Tue 2pm WTA Tue story losers' prize: $10,650 US; points: 1 #6 s6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #20 q Agnieszka Radwanska POL 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 Tue Anna: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Anna driving a forehand, and Agnieszka fielding a backhand     Anna said: "[Agnieszka] was a qualifier, but she's ranked in the top 20 and is very tough, so this was a good match to win. It was my first outdoor match in a while, so I had to get used to that as well. When she came back from 5-2 to 5-4 in the third set it was becoming difficult, but I served a good game to finish the match. I was fighting until the end and that's why I won." *#23 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #9 s7 Marion Bartoli FRA 6-1, 6(5)-7, 6-1 Tue Francesca following a slice backhand, Marion eyeing a backhand drive, and Fresca about to swat a forehand #11 s8 Elena Dementieva RUS d #12 Patty Schnyder SUI 7-5, 6-0 Mon Patty driving a backhand, Elena running down a forehand, and after match point #14 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #106 q Aiko Nakamura JPN 6-3, 6-0 Tue Aiko ready to lightly tap a two-handed forehand, and Nicole's one-hander #15 Dinara Safina RUS d #171 wc Selima Sfar TUN 6-1, 6-3 Mon Dinara mp3 Selima driving a forehand, and Dinara's backhand *#28 q Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #16 Nadia Petrova RUS 6-4, 6-4 Tue     Katarina resides in Dubai--but there are no photos from her qualy final (she didn't get a wild card), and no pics from this win either.     It was Nadia's fifth 1st round defeat in her past six tourneys. Nadia said: "I think the simple answer is that I just feel burned out. It already started last year, after I got my injuries after the U.S. Open. I could hide it, I could still force myself and make myself focus and try to play my game and try to win. But this year it seems like nothing is working." *#48 LL Akiko Morigami JPN d #18 Agnes Szavay HUN 6-1, 6-4 Tue Agnes driving a backhand, and Agnes ready to swat one #19 Sybille Bammer AUT d #80 q Ekaterina Makarova RUS 7-6(6), 6-3 Tue Ekaterina and Sybille driving backhands #21 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #26 Maria Kirilenko RUS 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Mon Maria following a forehand, and Alona's backhand drive #22 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #31 q Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 7-6(7), 6-2 Tue Amelie: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Anabel driving her two-handed backhand, and Amelie's one-hander #32 wc Sania Mirza IND d #40 q Vera Dushevina RUS 7-6(5), 6-2 Tue Sania: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Vera about to fire a forehand, Sania's backhand drive, and Sania keeping cool between points #39 Lucie Safarova CZE d #41 LL Ai Sugiyama JPN 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 Tue Lucie following a backhand, and Ai driving a forehand on the run

Dubai, 2nd Rd, Wed 2pm losers' prize: $20,200 US; points: 40 #1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #28 q Katarina Srebotnik SLO 7-5, 6(6)-7, 6-3 Justine: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Katarina driving a forehand, Justine fielding one on the run, and after winning a point #2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #39 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-1, 6-2 Svetlana: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Lucie and Svetlana driving lefty and righty backhands #3 s3 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #14 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 6-4, 6-0 Ana driving a forehand, and after winning a point (still looking for pics of Nicole, !?&%$#...) #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #32 wc Sania Mirza IND 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Jelena: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Sania: mp3 Sania and Jelena driving backhands #6 s6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #15 Dinara Safina RUS 6(3)-7, 6-4, 6-3 Anna's service toss, Dinara driving a forehand, and Anna about to swat a backhand #11 s8 Elena Dementieva RUS d #21 Alona Bondarenko UKR 6-2, 6-1 no good photos found *#23 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #19 Sybille Bammer AUT 6-3, 6-2 Francesca following a flying backhand (no photos of Sybille found) #22 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #48 LL Akiko Morigami JPN 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Amelie: mp3 Akiko and Amelie driving backhands

Dubai, QFs, Thu 2pm WTA story losers' prize: $37,550 US; points: 75 *#23 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #1 s1 Justine Henin BEL 7-6(3), 7-6(4) Francesca serving, Justine's forehand drive, Francesca following a slice backhand, and after match point     Francesca said: "I have beaten [Amelie] Mauresmo when she was world No. 1 in a Fed Cup match, but definitely this win against someone like Justine, who always plays at such a high level, is the biggest win of my career...     "She's so strong. Every point you have to beat her. Every point is a match point. At the end in the tie-break I said 'you push now or you go home; it's better you push now'--and I did." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - AP story - AFP story     Justine had won 37 of her last 38 matches. Justine said: "[Francesca] played really well. She was hitting hard, coming to the net, slicing ... really mixing it up. I had my chances but I did not take them, whereas she did. She was definitely a better player and deserved to win." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - #2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #22 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 6-1, 7-6(4) Svetlana: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Amelie: mp3 Amelie volleying a backhand, and Svetlana driving one     Svetlana said: "I started the match really well, but in the second set I wasn't moving so well. Amélie also improved her level in the second and in the heat I started to struggle a little. I was making more unforced errors then, but thankfully I managed to really up my level in the tie-break and get through in two sets." *#11 s8 Elena Dementieva RUS d #3 s3 Ana Ivanovic SRB 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 Ana and Elena driving backhands #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #6 s6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-1, 0-0 retired--left thigh injury Jelena: mp3 1 - mp3 2 Anna about to swat a backhand, Jelena following one, and Jelena after the match, about to cut a cake for her 23rd birthday

Dubai, SFs, Fri 2pm WTA story losers' prize: $69,760 US; points: 140 #2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 Svetlana following a forehand, Jelena and Svetlana driving backhands, and Sveta after match point     Svetlana said: "In the first set I was playing the right shots, but at 5-3 I lost concentration and let [Jelena] get back. The same happened in the second set when I got to 3-0. I let her get back. I tried to change that and as the match went on and on I went better and better. In the third set I served better too." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - AFP story     Jelena was all tuckered out late in the match. Jelena said: "I have to work a little bit on my conditioning, because physically I wasn't there at the end. At the end of the second set and throughout the third I had a tough time really using my legs and getting into a shot." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - Reuters story     Sveta joked: "She looks like weak, weak, weak, and then she runs, runs, runs. I better not look at her. I had better focus on myself." #11 s8 Elena Dementieva RUS d #23 Francesca Schiavone ITA 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 Elena lining up a forehand, Francesca firing one, Elena running one down, and after match point     Elena said: "The toughest part was losing the first set. I was 5-3, serving for the set and had so many opportunities and didn't use them. I had to be able to stay calm and positive after losing that set and that was not easy. I'm glad I was able to fight and win the second set. That gave me so much confidence and I was finishing strongly in the third." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - Reuters story   Francesca: mp3 1 - mp3 2

Dubai, Final, Sat 7pm loser's prize: $130,000 US; points: 215 winner's prize: $250,000 US; points: 300 *#11 s8 Elena Dementieva RUS d #2 s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Elena's service toss, Sveta chopping a backhand, Elena about to drive one, and after match point

Dubai, Doubles Final, Sat 5pm losers' prize: $40,420 winners' prize: $80,000 cdr2 s1 Cara Black & Liezel Huber v cdr35 Zi Yan & Jie Zheng 7-5, 6-2 Dubai, Qual Finals, Mon Feb 25 12:30pm losers' prizes: q1 $1,640 1pt; q2 $3,010 5pts; q3 $5,600 10pts; qualifier 15 points #20 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #248 Jie Zheng CHN 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 #28 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #48 Akiko Morigami JPN 7-6(1), 6-0 #31 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #150 Monica Niculescu ROU 6-2, 6-4 #40 Vera Dushevina RUS d #41 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-3, 6-3 #80 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #84 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-2, 6(5)-7, 6-2 #106 Aiko Nakamura JPN d #133 Andreja Klepac SLO 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(5) Dubai, Withdrawals #5 s5 Maria Sharapova RUS illness #8 Daniela Hantuchova SVK #10 Serena Williams USA #29 sr 18 Na Li CHN right knee

Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & Cellular South Cup (Kroger St. Jude),  Memphis, Tennessee       Memphis time is UCT (GMT, Zulu...) -6 hours (= US CT, or US PT +2, ET -1). Tennessee news    NWS weather radar    Memphis current conditions     Memphis: The main draw for Memphis has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes.     There are 4 qualifiers in the main draw.     Qualifying (3 rounds) starts on Friday, qualifying finals are on Sunday.     Memphis Commerical Appeal: Tennis     click for broader view   Racquet Club of Memphis Lat.: 35.116135 Long.: -89.890534 goto link for World Wind

Memphis, 1st Rd Sun-Tue 10am WTA story loser's prize: $1,300; points: 1 *#129 q Petra Kvitova CZE d #7 s1 Venus Williams USA 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 Tue Petra preparing to serve, and Venus lining up a forehand     It was Petra's 14th career WTA match. Petra said: "I am very happy. It is the biggest (moment) of my life... I started to believe I could win this match in the third set. I didn't think I could do it in the first set. I served very well and it's the best match I've ever played." AP story - Sporting Life story     Venus said: "[Petra] had a good serve and she was left-handed. She mixed it up really well. I'm not happy about the result of the match, but she played well... I just made some mistakes. I definitely had more errors than I wanted." *#131 Bethanie Mattek USA d #13 s2 Tatiana Golovin FRA 6-4, 6-4 Tue     Bethanie said: "I was seeing the ball really well and just trying to get there as early as I could, so I'd be where [Tatiana] was hitting before she knew it. And I just stuck to my game plan. My goal was just to get on top then get as many points right away as I could; so I came out firing." #17 s3 Shahar Peer ISR d #125 Ahsha Rolle USA 6-2, 6-1 Tue     Shahar said: "It was my first indoor match of the season and I played solid, so I'm happy. I played consistently and tried to put as much pressure on [Ahsha] as I could, so that I'd keep her deep and she wouldn't be able to come in. She started the match well, but once I broke for 4-2 in the first set things got better and better." #46 s4 Lindsay Davenport USA d #143 q Sabine Lisicki GER 7-5, 6-3 Mon #50 s5 Olga Govortsova BLR d #815 sr Mashona Washington USA 6-4, 6-2 Mon #53 s6 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #97 Milagros Sequera VEN 6-0, 6-2 Tue     Caroline said: "I felt really good today. I was hitting the ball well and playing my game. It's my third trip to Memphis. I like the fact that it's a combined tournament, and the atmosphere is nice too. I enjoy it here." #62 s7 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #140 Severine Bremond FRA 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-1 Sun *#117 wc Julia Goerges GER d #91 Lilia Osterloh USA 7-6(3), 7-6(3) Mon *#151 Melinda Czink HUN d #100 Olga Poutchkova RUS 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 Mon #102 Stephanie Dubois CAN d #115 Vania King USA 6-2, 2-6, 6-1 Mon *#267 wc Amber Liu USA d #104 Yuliana Fedak UKR 6-4, 6-3 Mon #112 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS d #215 q Brenda Schultz-McCarthy NED 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 Mon #142 Renata Voracova CZE d #118 Maret Ani EST 6-3, 6(5)-7, 7-6(3) Sun *#296 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #119 Stephanie Cohen-Aloro FRA 7-5, 1-0 retired--illness Mon #123 Evgenia Rodina RUS d #161 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR 7-5, 6-4 Mon #135 q Marina Erakovic NZL d #157 LL Alina Jidkova RUS 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 Tue

Memphis, 2nd Rd Tue-Wed 10am loser's prize: $2,200 US; points: 20 #17 s3 Shahar Peer ISR d #151 Melinda Czink HUN 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 Wed #46 s4 Lindsay Davenport USA d #123 Evgenia Rodina RUS 6-1, 6-1 Wed #50 s5 Olga Govortsova BLR d #142 Renata Voracova CZE 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) Tue #53 s6 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #296 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 6-2, 6-4 Wed #62 s7 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #102 Stephanie Dubois CAN 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 Tue #112 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS d #129 q Petra Kvitova CZE 6(6)-7, 7-5, 6-1 Wed #117 wc Julia Goerges GER d #131 Bethanie Mattek USA 6-4, 6-3 Wed #135 q Marina Erakovic NZL d #267 wc Amber Liu USA 7-5, 6-3 Wed

Memphis, QFs, Thu 10am WTA story loser's prize: $4,050 US; points: 35 #17 s3 Shahar Peer ISR d #62 s7 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 3-6, 6-1, 6-4     Shahar said: "It was really, really tough; we were both playing really well the whole match. I didn't play badly in the first set, but I finished the points better in the second and third sets. I tried to be more aggressive after losing the first set and it worked. I hope I can keep that level up the rest of the tournament."     2006 Memphis champ Sofia said: "The second set didn't go so well for me; I began playing much better in the third and we had lots of close games but [Shahar] won most of them. It was crucial to have a fast start in the third set and she got it. I had some chances in the end of the match to come back but I just couldn't take them." #46 s4 Lindsay Davenport USA d #53 s6 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-0, 6-2     Lindsay said: "I never know what to expect from players I have never played, and I knew [Caroline] was a really good up-and-coming player. I felt on this court I could overpower her and I was able to do that. I felt I was in control of most of the points and I just kept the momentum going throughout the match." #50 s5 Olga Govortsova BLR d #117 wc Julia Goerges GER 7-6(5), 6-2 *#135 q Marina Erakovic NZL d #112 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Memphis, SFs, Fri 10am loser's prize: $7,700 US; points: 65 *#50 s5 Olga Govortsova BLR d #17 s3 Shahar Peer ISR 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 Olga driving a backhand     Olga said: "It feels really good to get to my first WTA final in only my second year on the WTA Tour...     "I want to play against Lindsay [Davenport] because she was favorite player growing up. I liked to watch her play and hope to play her in the final." tourney story     Shahar said: "I had my chances in the first as well as the third set, like in the third set I had a break point at 3-3 and just missed. It was the kind of match that every point was so important, and I just wasn't able to win enough of them. But credit to [Olga], she played really tough." Memphis player's blog by Shahar Peer #46 s4 Lindsay Davenport USA d #135 q Marina Erakovic NZL 6-0, 6-3

Memphis, Final Sat 7pm loser's prize: $14,650 US; points: 100 winner's prize: $28,000 US; points: 140 #46 s4 Lindsay Davenport USA d #50 s5 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-2, 6-1 Lindsay driving a backhand, and after match point

Memphis, Doubles Final, Sat losers' prize: $4,350 winners' prize: $9,250 cdr179 s3 Lindsay Davenport & Lisa Raymond d cdr383 Angela Haynes & Mashona Washington 6-3, 6-1 Lisa & Lindsay Memphis, Qual Finals, Sun Feb 24 10am losers' prizes: q1 $200 1pt; q2 $350 3pts; q3 $650 4pts; qualifier 8 points #129 Petra Kvitova CZE d #183 Chanelle Scheepers RSA 6-1, 6-3 #135 Marina Erakovic NZL d #1053 Theresa Logar USA 6-3, 6-1 #143 Sabine Lisicki GER d #157 Alina Jidkova RUS 6-4, 6-4 #215 Brenda Schultz-McCarthy NED d #372 Tanja Ostertag GER 6-2, 6-2 Memphis, Withdrawals #51 Meilen Tu USA illness #54 Meghann Shaughnessy USA left knee #58 Casey Dellacqua AUS back injury #65 Yung-Jan Chan TPE Doha qualifying #69 Ashley Harkleroad USA flu/bronchitis #70 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL #77 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR thoracic spine injury #83 Angelique Kerber GER Doha qualifying #85 s8 Laura Granville USA #93 Anne Kremer LUX left adductor #107 Tatiana Poutchek BLR Doha qualifying #109 Olga Savchuk UKR Doha qualifying #130 Nicole Pratt AUS right knee

Abierto Mexicano,  Acapulco, Mexico       The time in Acapulco is UCT (GMT, Zulu...) -6 hours (US Pacific Time +2, ET -1). Mexico news Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Acapulco: The main draw for Acapulco has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes.     There are 4 qualifiers in the main draw.     Qualifying (2 rounds) starts on Saturday, qualifying finals are on Sunday.     click for broader view   Fairmont Acapulco Princess Latitude: 16.788035 Longitude: -99.811703 goto link for World Wind

Acapulco, 1st Rd, Mon 3pm-Tue 10am loser's prize: $1,355; points: 1 #30 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #99 Ekaterina Bychkova 6-4, 6-1 Mon Ekaterina eyeing a backhand, and Flavia driving one #49 s2 Alize Cornet FRA d #149 Jelena Kostanic Tosic CRO 7-5, 6-3 Tue Alize following a forehand #57 s3 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #158 q Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 Tue Klara about to connect with a backhand *#132 Olivia Sanchez FRA d #63 s4 Martina Muller GER 6-2, 6-4 Tue Olivia serving to Martina #66 s5 Sara Errani ITA d #90 Tatjana Malek GER 6-3, 6-3 Tue #67 s6 Yvonne Meusburger AUT d #202 q Magdalena Rybarikova SVK 6-4, 7-6(4) Mon Magdalena eyeing a forehand, and Yvonne driving one #68 s7 Kaia Kanepi EST d #373 q Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 6-4, 6-3 Tue Kaia's backhand drive #71 s8 Edina Gallovits ROU d #355 wc Daniela Munoz Gallegos MEX 6-1, 6-0 Tue Edina driving a backhand #72 Mariya Koryttseva UKR d #79 Camille Pin FRA 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 Tue Mariya telling a forehand where to go #73 Jill Craybas USA d #116 Rosanna de los Rios PAR 6-2, 6-2 Mon Rosanna and Jill following backhands #78 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP d #190 Rika Fujiwara JPN 7-5, 6-3 Mon *#96 Petra Cetkovska CZE d #88 Maria Emilia Salerni ARG 6-2, 7-5 Tue Petra serving to Maria Emilia *#227 wc Melissa Torres Sandoval MEX v #98 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 Mon Maria Elena's service toss, Melissa driving a forehand, and after winning a point #105 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #154 q Jorgelina Cravero ARG 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 Tue Sorana's backhand drive #122 Julia Schruff GER d #124 Greta Arn HUN 6-2, 6(6)-7, 7-6(5) Mon Julia awaiting what appears to be a drop shot #139 Iveta Benesova CZE d #716 wc Nadja Roma SWE 6-1, 6-1 Tue

Acapulco, 2nd Round, Wed 3pm loser's prize: $2,335 US; points: 20 #30 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #122 Julia Schruff GER 6-2, 6-3 Flavia after one got away #49 s2 Alize Cornet FRA d #227 wc Melissa Torres Sandoval MEX 6-2, 6-0 Alize's forehand drive, Melissa volleying a backhand volley, and Alize driving one #73 Jill Craybas USA d #57 s3 Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-1, 4-6, 7-6(2) Jill's service toss *#72 Mariya Koryttseva UKR d #66 s5 Sara Errani ITA 7-5, 6-1 Mariya's backhand drive *#139 Iveta Benesova CZE d #67 s6 Yvonne Meusburger AUT 6-1, 7-5 Iveta about to swat a forehand #68 s7 Kaia Kanepi EST d #78 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 6(1)-7, 6-1, 6-3 #71 s8 Edina Gallovits ROU d #96 Petra Cetkovska CZE 6-4, 6-3 Edina lining up a backhand #105 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #132 Olivia Sanchez FRA 6-1, 7-5

Acapulco, QFs, Thu 3pm loser's prize: $4,245; points: 35 #30 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #71 s8 Edina Gallovits ROU 7-6(4), 6-1 Flavia fielding a forehand on the fly #49 s2 Alize Cornet FRA d #72 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-4, 6-0 Alize about to reach out and touch a forehand #68 s7 Kaia Kanepi EST d #105 Sorana Cirstea ROU 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(6) #73 Jill Craybas USA d #139 Iveta Benesova CZE 6-4, 6-1

Acapulco, SFs, Fri 3pm loser's prize: $8,030; points: 65 #30 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #68 s7 Kaia Kanepi EST 6-4, 6-2 Flavia firing a forehand, and after match point #49 s2 Alize Cornet FRA d #73 Jill Craybas USA 6-2, 6-2 Alize spinning a forehand, and after match point

Acapulco, Final, Sat 6:30pm loser's prize: $15,390; points: 100 winner's prize: $28,700; points: 140 #30 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #49 s2 Alize Cornet FRA 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 Alize and Flavia driving forehands, and Flavia after match point

Acapulco, Doubles Final, Sat 3pm loser's prize: $4,480 winner's prize: $8,340 cdr193 Nuria Llagostera Vives & Maria Jose Martínez Sánchez d cdr158 Iveta Benesova & Petra Cetkovska 6-2, 6-4 Nuria & Maria Jose Acapulco, Qual Finals, Sun Feb 24 3pm losers' prizes: q1 $375 1pt; q2 $690 3pts; qualifier 4 points *#373 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #268 Guilia Gabba ITA 6-4, 7-6(3) #154 Jorgelina Cravero ARG d #191 Raquel Kops-Jones USA 6-3, 6-4 #158 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP d #197 Marta Marrero ESP 6-3, 6-3 *#202 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #167 Marie Eve Pelletier CAN 6-3, 6-4 Acapulco, Withdrawals #43 Gisela Dulko ARG left hamstring #45 Dominika Cibulkova SVK #47 Pauline Parmentier FRA left abductor #55 Emilie Loit FRA left wrist #92 Julie Ditty USA #118 Maret Ani EST Memphis #120 Roberta Vinci ITA shoulder

    (Feb 26, 2008) Last week's champion in Doha, 5th-seeded # 5 Maria Sharapova (illness), and # 29 Na Li (right knee) have both withdrawn from the Dubai Tennis Championships.
    Maria said: "I have been coughing a lot and feeling tired, but I somehow played through [in Doha last week]. But I don't want to repeat the mistakes I have made in my past, when I tried to play through injuries and sickness and aggravated it...
    "After having a few really long weeks I feel my body needs a rest. I think it's just a lot of flying. I've done a lot of travelling in the last few weeks, going from Israel (for the Fed Cup) back home and really not resting at all, practising right away for Doha and then going there. One way or another it's going to take a toll.
    "I'm going to take a week off now and go on a vacation. I'm just going on a spontaneous trip where there's going to be a limited amount of people and a very limited amount of things to do. I'll read and just do nothing. That's my goal for the next week so I can come out with a fresh frame of mind." mp3 1 - mp3 2 - AP story - Reuters story
    There is no word as to the extent of Na's knee injury.

See also: QuickShop: Sporting Goods - Martina Hingis - Anna Kournikova

Current WTA Results & Tennis News (tennis home page) - 2008 WTA Schedule with links & photos

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