WTA, ITF & Exhibition: Dec 29-Jan 6 Women's Hardcourts, Gold Coast, AUS Tier III $175,000 - 32 players - outdoor: hard Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - match notes pics: Yahoo news - tourney - WTA Gold Coast: weather radar - forecast #12 N Vaidisova, #14 N Petrova ASB Classic, Auckland, NZL Tier IV $145,000 - 32 players - outdoor: hard Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP pics: Yahoo - WTA - video: free - pay Auckland: rainfall - forecast # 22 V Zvonareva, # 25 M Kirilenko Hopman Cup, Perth, AUS Live Scores standings - results - teams-sched pics: tourney - Yahoo news Perth: weather radar - forecast JB Group Classic, Hong Kong, CHN Live Scores - photos - Videos - draw Hong Kong: weather radar - forecast

Gold Coast-Auckland tourney pages: 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 previous other tourney pages next Hong Kong: #8 Venus Williams 6' 1" 160lb RH 2H-BH Gold Coast: #29 Na Li 5' 8" 137lb RH 2H-BH Auckland: #72 L Davenport 6' 2½" 175lb RH 2H-BH Perth: #7 Serena Williams 5' 9" 135lb RH 2H-BH

    On Saturday in Gold Coast, Australia, in the final of the Australian Women's Hardcourts, 25-year-old # 29 Na Li from Wuhan, Hubei, China, narrowly defeated 18-year-old # 30 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (residence: Scottsdale, Arizona), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 (Na is shown with the hardware).
    Na and Victoria had never before met on the field of combat. Na, who missed much of the 2007 season due to a stress-fractured (and refractured) rib, is now 2-2 in WTA singles finals; she won the Guangzhou title in 2004. Victoria is now 0-3 in WTA singles finals; she won the junior's singles titles at the 2005 Australian Open and US Open.

    Meanwhile, in Auckland, New Zealand, in the final of the ASB Classic, 31-year-old # 72 (and former # 1) Lindsay Davenport from Laguna Beach, California, defeated 20-year-old # 90 Aravane Rezai from St. Etienne, France, 6-2, 6-2 (Lindsay is shown with the hardware).
    Lindsay and Aravane, also, had never before met on the field of combat. Lindsay, who missed most of the 2007 season due to reproductive processes, is now 54-36 in WTA singles finals; she returned to win the Bali title in Oct, 2007. Aravane is now 0-2 in WTA singles finals; she reached the final at Istanbul last year.

    And meanwhile, in Hong Kong in the final of the 2008 JB Group Classic (the largest exhibition tourney of the year, formerly known as the Watson's Water Challenge), 27-year-old # 8 Venus Williams from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, defeated 20-year-old # 5 Maria Sharapova of Russia (with residences in California and Bradenton, Florida, home of the Bollettieri Academy), 6-4, 6-3 (Venus is shown with the glassware).
    Maria and Venus are now tied at 3-3 in career matches, but Venus also won the last time they met, in the 4th round (and on her way to the title) at Wimbledon last year, 6-1, 6-3.

    On Friday, in Perth, Australia, in the final of the ITF Hopman Cup, the 2007 Australian Open champion, 26-year-old # 7 Serena Williams from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was handed a victory in the women's singles by a walkover when 22-year-old # 3 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia (residence: Bradenton, Florida) was unable to play due to a painful right hamstring strain.
    Serbia kept their hopes alive when Jelena's partner Novak Djokovic defeated Serena's partner Mardy Fish in the men's singles. Although Jelena toughed it out in the mixed doubles, the USA prevailed, 7-6(4), 6-2 to win the 2008 Hopman Cup (Serena is shown with her keeper hardware and a hand on the cup itself). Credit is also due to # 52 Meghann Shaughnessy from Scottsdale, Arizona: if Meghann, filling in for an ill Serena, had not defeated Sania Mirza on Dec 29, India might have reached the final instead of USA.

Gold Coast player's blog by Bryanne Stewart

SCOREBOARD: WTA Gold Coast & Auckland; ITF Perth, Exhibition Hong Kong s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Australian Women's Hardcourts, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia       The time in Gold Coast is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) +10 hours (Pacific Time+18, often=next day, 6 hours earlier; ET+15). Australia news Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Gold Coast: is located on the eastern coast of Australia just south of Brisbane.     The main draw has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes, and 4 qualifiers.     Qualifying (3 rounds) runs from Friday-Sunday.     click for broader view   Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast, Australia Latitude: -28.004045 Longitude: 153.373454 goto link for World Wind street map - directions     Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight savings time (other Aussie provinces do). Thus the time in Gold Coast during the summer months is 1 hour earlier than the time in Sydney and Melbourne. On Dec 28, 2007, Agnes Szavay did the player rep thing at the 2008 Gold Coast main draw ceremony, while Tourney Director Liz Smylie entertained those in attendance... On Sunday, top seed Nicole Vaidisova played meet the press... On Dec 29, Agnes was presented with a cake for her 19th birthday during a visit to the top of the Q-1 building, the 7th tallest residential building in the world... On New Year's Eve, Elena Vesnina, Nadia Petrova, and Yaroslava Shvedova outshone the fireworks at the player's party, and Nadia and others were entertained by an Elvis impersonator... On Jan 2, Vania King (and Maria Kirilenko, keeping a safe distance) examined a critter that the WTA website mistakenly calls a shingleback lizard, but which appears to be a young crocodile, of which northern Australia has both salt and fresh water varieties... On Jan 4, Galina Voskoboeva and Nicole Vaidisova met a friendly wombat at Dreamworld...

Gold Coast, 1st Round, Sun noon, Mon 10:30am, Tue 10am loser's prize: $1,300 US; points: 1 Mon: rain stopped play #12 s1 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #86 wc Casey Dellacqua AUS 5-7, 7-5, 6-0 Tue Nicole serving, and Casey and Nicole driving backhands *#36 Tathiana Garbin ITA d #14 s2 Nadia Petrova RUS 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 Mon Tathiana and Nadia driving forehands, and Tathiana alerting the media after the match #15 s3 Dinara Safina RUS d #142 wc Jarmila Gajdosova AUS 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 Mon Dinara's forehand, and after match point #16 s4 Patty Schnyder SUI d #156 q Alisa Kleybanova RUS 6-1, 6-3 Mon Patty's backhand drive, and Alisa and Patty driving forehands #17 s5 Shahar Peer ISR d #101 Julie Ditty USA 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 Sun #18 s6 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #92 q Olga Savchuk UKR 6-1, 6-1 Mon Amelie's backhand *#29 Na Li CHN d #19 s7 Sybille Bammer AUT 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 ppd-Tue *#123 LL Yuliana Fedak UKR d #20 s8 Agnes Szavay HUN 3-6 7-5 6-2 Mon #24 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #52 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 0-6, 0-1 retired--left knee injury Mon *#51 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #28 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-2, 6-2 Mon-rain-Tue #30 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #38 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-2, 6-3 Sun Victoria and Ai driving backhands #39 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #122 q Timea Bacsinszky SUI 6-4, 6-1 ppd-Tue Flavia's forehand drive *#158 wc Monique Adamczak AUS d #54 Elena Vesnina RUS 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-5 ppd-Tue #68 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #58 Zi Yan CHN 6-2, 6-2 Sun Zi's backhand drive, and Nathalie reaching for a forehand volley *#89 Tatjana Malek GER d #66 Aiko Nakamura JPN 7-5, 6-3 ppd-Tue *#119 q Julia Schruff GER d #71 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 6-2, 6-1 ppd-Tue

Gold Coast, 2nd Round, Tue-Wed 10:30am loser's prize: $2,200 US; points: 20 #12 s1 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #89 Tatjana Malek GER 6-4, 6-2 Wed Nicole driving a forehand, and volleying a backhand #15 s3 Dinara Safina RUS d #39 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 Wed Dinara after match point #16 s4 Patty Schnyder SUI d #24 Francesca Schiavone ITA 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 Wed Patty driving a backhand #17 s5 Shahar Peer ISR d #119 q Julia Schruff GER 6-0, 0-0 retired--upper respiratory illness Wed #18 s6 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #68 Nathalie Dechy FRA 6-3, 6-4 Wed Amelie volleying a backhand, and Nathalie driving one #29 Na Li CHN d #158 wc Monique Adamczak AUS 6-3, 6-2 Wed Na's forehand drive #30 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #123 LL Yuliana Fedak UKR 6-4, 6-2 Tue Victoria's backhand drive *#51 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #36 Tathiana Garbin ITA 7-5, 6-1 Wed

Gold Coast, QFs, Thu 10:30am loser's prize: $4,050 US; points: 35 *#29 Na Li CHN d #12 s1 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 6-3, 6-3 Na about to connect with a forehand, and Nicole's backhand drive #16 s4 Patty Schnyder SUI v #18 s6 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 6-4, 6-4 Amelie and Patty driving righty and lefty forehands *#17 s5 Shahar Peer ISR d #15 s3 Dinara Safina RUS 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8) Shahar's forehand, and Dinara about to swat a backhand #30 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #51 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 Victoria's forehand, and Dominika ready to deliver a backhand

Gold Coast, SFs, Fri 1pm loser's prize: $7,700 US; points: 65 *#29 Na Li CHN d #16 s4 Patty Schnyder SUI 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 Na driving a forehand, Patty's backhand, and Na after match point #30 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #17 s5 Shahar Peer ISR 6-4, 6-2 Victoria's forehand, and Shahar volleying a backhand

Gold Coast, Final, Sat 11:30am loser's prize: $14,650 US; points: 100 winner's prize: $28,000 US; points: 140 #29 Na Li CHN d #30 Victoria Azarenka BLR 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Na driving a forehand, Victoria volleying one, and Na after winning a point

Gold Coast, Doubles Final, Sat after singles loser's prize: $8,250 US winner's prize: $4,350 US *cdr40 s3 Dinara Safina & Agnes Szavay d cdr36 s2 Zi Yan & Jie Zheng 6-1, 6-2 Gold Coast, Qual Finals, Sun Dec 30, 10am losers' prizes: q1 $200; q2 $350; qf $650 #92 Olga Savchuk UKR d #132 Anne Keothavong GBR 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 #119 Julia Schruff GER d #123 Yuliana Fedak UKR 6-2, 6-2 #122 Timea Bacsinszky SUI d #219 Christina Wheeler AUS 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 #156 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #163 Jie Zheng CHN 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Gold Coast, Withdrawals #32 Julia Vakulenko UKR right wrist #35 Mara Santangelo ITA #48 Olga Govortsova BLR right finger #46 Samantha Stosur AUS not fully recovered from meningitis #50 Karin Knapp ITA

ASB Classic, Auckland, New Zealand       The time in Auckland is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) +13 hours (US PT+21, often = next day, 3 hours earlier; ET+18). New Zealand news Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Auckland: The main draw for Auckland has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes.     There are 4 qualifiers in the main draw.     Qualifying (3 rounds) begins on Saturday; qualifying finals are on Monday.     click for broader view   ASB Tennis Centre, Auckland Latitude: -36.853767 Longitude: 174.773394 goto link for World Wind another map - directions     The ASB Tennis Centre has 7 outdoor Rebound Ace courts (which may be converted to Plexicushion), 2 indoor Astrograss courts, and 3 indoor hard courts, all lit.

Auckland, 1st Round, Mon-Tue 11am loser's prize: $1,035 US; points: 1 #22 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #325 wc Sacha Jones NZL 6-0, 6-1 Tue #25 s2 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #75 Kaia Kanepi EST 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 Tue #27 s3 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #78 Anastasia Rodionova RUS 6-0, 3-0 retired--eye irritation Mon *#69 Sara Errani ITA d #33 s4 Michaella Krajicek NED 7-5, 6(4)-7, 6-2 Tue #34 s5 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #70 Nicole Pratt AUS 7-6(3), 6-3 Mon #41 s6 Tamira Paszek AUT d #175 Yanina Wickmayer BEL 7-6(7), 6-1 Mon #42 s7 Eleni Daniilidou GRE d #187 q Elena Baltacha GBR 6-1, 6-2 Tue *#67 Ashley Harkleroad USA d #43 s8 Emilie Loit FRA 6-4, 6-1 Mon *#63 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #47 Meilen Tu USA 6-3, 7-5 Mon *#65 Yvonne Meusburger AUT d #49 Akiko Morigami JPN 7-5, 6-0 Mon *#76 Camille Pin FRA d #53 Martina Muller GER 6-3, 6-1 Tue #57 Pauline Parmentier FRA d #162 q Vesna Manasieva RUS 6-0, 7-5 Tue *#72 Lindsay Davenport USA d #61 Laura Granville USA 6-2, 6-3 Mon #90 Aravane Rezai FRA d #149 q Shuai Zhang CHN 6-3, 6-3 Tue #98 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #115 q Ahsha Rolle USA 6-4, 7-5 Tue #153 wc Marina Erakovic NZL d #387 wc Ellen Barry NZL 6-1, 6-1 Tue

Auckland, 2nd Round, Wed 11am loser's prize: $1,925 US; points: 15 #22 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #98 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6-2, 6-3 #25 s2 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #63 Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-4, 6-1 #27 s3 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #65 Yvonne Meusburger AUT 6-0, 6-1 *#72 Lindsay Davenport USA d #34 s5 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-1, 4-6, 6-0 Lindsay serving to Anabel #41 s6 Tamira Paszek AUT d #76 Camille Pin FRA 6-2, 6-3 *#90 Aravane Rezai FRA d #42 s7 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 7-5, 6-4 *#69 Sara Errani ITA d #57 Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-1, 6-2 *#153 wc Marina Erakovic NZL d #67 Ashley Harkleroad USA 7-6(5), 7-5

Auckland, QFs, Thu 11am loser's prize: $3,580 US; points: 30 *#153 wc Marina Erakovic NZL d #22 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5) *#41 s6 Tamira Paszek AUT d #25 s2 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-1, 6-3 *#90 Aravane Rezai FRA d #27 s3 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 6-1, 6-3 *#72 Lindsay Davenport USA d #69 Sara Errani ITA 6-3, 6-3

Auckland, SFs, Fri noon loser's prize: $6,650 US; points: 50 *#72 Lindsay Davenport USA d #41 s6 Tamira Paszek AUT 6-4, 6-3 Lindsay following a backhand, and Tamira fielding a forehand #90 Aravane Rezai FRA d #153 wc Marina Erakovic NZL 6-3, 7-5 Aravane driving a backhand

Auckland, Final, Sat 1pm loser's prize: $12,345 US; points: 80 winner's prize: $22,900 US; points: 115 #72 Lindsay Davenport USA d #90 Aravane Rezai FRA 6-2, 6-2 Lindsay driving a forehand, and Aravane about to swat a backhand

Auckland, Doubles Final, Sat after singles loser's prize: $3,640 US winner's prize: $6,750 US *cdr244 Mariya Koryttseva & Lilia Osterloh d cdr145 Martina Muller & Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3, 6-4 Lilia & Mariya Auckland, Qual Finals, Mon Dec 31 losers' prizes: q1 $200; q2 $350; qf $650 *#149 Shuai Zhang CHN d #91 Lilia Osterloh USA 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 *#162 Vesna Manasieva RUS d #105 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 #115 Ahsha Rolle USA d #189 Naomi Cavaday GBR 6-2, 6-2 #187 Elena Baltacha GBR d #214 Melanie South GBR 7-5, 6-3 Auckland, Withdrawals #58 Zi Yan CHN Gold Coast #66 Aiko Nakamura JPN Gold Coast #68 Nathalie Dechy FRA Gold Coast #71 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP Gold Coast

ITF Hopman Cup, Perth, Western Australia       The time in Perth is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) +8 hours (US PT+16, often = next day, 8 hours earlier; ET +13). Australia news Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Perth: The Hopman Cup is not a WTA-sanctioned event, but an ITF event featuring WTA & ATP pairs from 8 nations competing as teams.     As you might expect, each international "tie" consists of 3 "rubbers," 2 singles and 1 doubles.     click for broader view   Burswood Dome, Perth Latitude: -31.960164 Longitude: 115.896567 goto link for World Wind another map (dome is SE of golf course)     The eight competing teams are divided into two groups, A and B, which play round robin preliminaries. The two group winners play in the final. Beginning in 2007, one of the eight places has been reserved for the nation winning the Asian Hopman Cup, which was held for the first time in Hyderabad, India, in November 2006. Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) won this year. Group A "Ties" W-L Matches W-L s1 Serbia #3 Jelena Jankovic N Djokovic 3-0 7-2 s4 France #13 Tatiana Golovin #40 Monfils 2-1 6-3 s8 C. Taipei #157 Su-Wei Hsieh Yen-Hsun Lu 1-2 3-6 s5 Argentina #37 Gisela Dulko #17 J I Chela 0-3 2-7 Group B s2 USA #52 Meghann Shaughnessy     #7 Serena Williams #43 M Fish 3-0 8-1 s7 India #31 Sania Mirza #262 R Bopanna 1-2 4-5 s6 Australia #56 Alicia Molik #77 P Luczak 1-2 3-6 s3 Czech Rep #23 Lucie Safarova #13 T Berdych 1-2 3-6 Perth, Hopman Cup, Saturday, Dec 29, 10:30am & 6pm *#52 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #31 Sania Mirza IND 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 USA 2 d India 1 Meghann and Sania driving forehands *#56 Alicia Molik AUS d #23 Lucie Safarova 7-5, 6-2 Australia 2 d Czech Republic 1 Alicia and Lucie driving forehands Perth, Hopman Cup, Sunday 10:30am & 6pm #3 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #157 Su-Wei Hsieh TPE 6-4, 6-4 Serbia 3 d Chinese Taipei 0 Su-Wei's forehand, Jelena's backhand, and after match point #13 Tatiana Golovin FRA d #37 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-4, 6-3 France 2 d Argentina 1 Gisela elevating for a forehand, Tatiana's backhand, and after match point Perth, Hopman Cup, Monday 10:30am #7 Serena Williams USA d #23 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-0, 2-6, 7-5 USA 3 d Czech Republic 0 Lucie delivering a cannonball, Serena's backhand, and Lucie congratulating Serena after match point Perth, Hopman Cup, Tuesday 10:30am #31 Sania Mirza IND d #56 Alicia Molik AUS 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 India 2 d Australia 1 Sania reaching for a backhand, driving one, and after match point Perth, Hopman Cup, Wednesday 10:30am & 6pm #13 Tatiana Golovin FRA d #3 Jelena Jankovic SRB 0-1, 0-30 retired--muscle strain Serbia 2 d France 1 Jelena explaining to Tatiana why she could not continue after taking an early lead #157 Su-Wei Hsieh TPE d #37 Gisela Dulko ARG 3-6, 7-6(2), 7-5 Chinese Taipei 3 d Argentina 0 Su-Wei's forehand drive, and Gisela fielding a backhand Perth, Hopman Cup, Thursday 10:30am & 6pm #7 Serena Williams USA d #56 Alicia Molik AUS 6-2, 7-6(7) USA 3 d Australia 0 Serena driving a forehand on the run, Alicia doing likewise, and Serena after match point #23 Lucie Safarova CZE d #31 Sania Mirza IND 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 Czech Rep. 2 d India 1 Sania's forehand drive, and Lucie's lefty backhand #13 Tatiana Golovin d #157 Su-Wei Hsieh 6-1, 6-1 France 3 d C. Taipei 0 #37 Gisela Dulko ARG d #3 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6(10)-7, 0-1 retired--muscle strain Serbia 2 d Argentina 1 Gisela consoling Jelena, who was clearly in pain Perth, Hopman Cup Final, Friday, Jan 4, 6pm: Group B winner USA defeated Group A winner Serbia #7 Serena Williams USA d #3 Jelena Jankovic SRB walkover--right hamstring strain USA 2 d Serbia 1 Serena and Mardy Fish with the Hopman Cup

JB Group Classic Exhibition, Hong Kong, China       The time in Hong Kong is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) +8 hours (US PT+16, often = next day, 8 hours earlier; ET +13). Hong Kong news Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Hong Kong: The JB Group Classic is an 8-player exhibition mini-tourney, not a WTA-sanctioned event. It is the largest exhibition event of the year.     No ranking points are awarded.     click for broader view   Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, China Latitude: 22.283001 Longitude: 114.189920 goto link for World Wind another street map     Singles matches at the JB Group Classic are full 3-set tiebreaker matches; doubles matches are single 8-game pro sets until the 3-set final. Enroute to Hong Kong, Anna Chakvetadze (shown on Dec 29, 2007), and Maria Sharapova (shown on Dec 28) stopped off in Singapore for a Dec 30 exhibition match... Maria won the exhib, 6-0, 7-6(10) (photos shown)... On New Year's Day in Hong Kong, players posed for the press at multiple events... at left are Michelle Larcher de Brito, Shuai Peng, and Daniela Hantuchova, and, at right, Elena Dementieva, Maria Sharapova, and Ana Ivanovic... Anna Chakvetadze, Elena, Ana Ivanovic, Maria, and Caroline Wozniacki also were photographed during pre-tourney interviews...

Hong Kong, QFs, Wed Jan 2 6:30pm singles alternate in case of injury or illness: #293 Michelle Larcher de Brito POR #5 Maria Sharapova RUS d #61 Caroline Wozniacki NED 6-2, 6-2 Caroline driving a forehand, Maria's backhand drive, and after match point #6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #9 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-4, 6-3 doubles SF: Elena Dementieva & Michelle Larcher de Brito d Ana Ivanovic & Peng Shuai 8-2 Hong Kong, QFs, Thu 6:30pm *#11 Elena Dementieva RUS d #4 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 Elena driving a forehand, and Ana's backhand #8 Venus Williams USA d #45 Shuai Peng CHN 6-1, 6-2 Venus driving a forehand, Shuai's backhand, and Venus after match point doubles SF: Venus Williams & Caroline Wozniacki d Anna Chakvetadze & Shuai Peng 8-4

Hong Kong, SFs, Fri 4:30pm #5 Maria Sharapova RUS d #6 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-4, 6-2 Maria serving, and Anna and Maria driving backhands #8 Venus Williams USA d #11 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-3, 6-3 Venus driving a forehand, and Elena, apparently wondering why nobody can come up with some better cold weather wear for pretty girls who play tennis... Hong Kong "Silver Group" Consolation SFs, Fri #45 Shuai Peng CHN d #4 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-1, 6-3 Shuai driving a backhand, and after match point #61 Caroline Wozniacki NED d #293 Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 6-1, 6-3 Caroline between points, Michelle driving a forehand on the run, and Caroline following one

Hong Kong, Final, Sat 2:30pm #8 Venus Williams USA d #5 Maria Sharapova RUS 6-4, 6-3 Maria's forehand, Venus driving a backhand, and after match point

Hong Kong, "Silver Group" Consolation Final, Sat #45 Shuai Peng CHN d #61 Caroline Wozniacki NED 6-2, 4-6, (10-6) Shuai with the glassware, and Caroline having fun in Hong Kong despite the loss Hong Kong, Doubles Final, Sat Venus Williams & Caroline Wozniacki d Elena Dementieva & Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-4, 6-4 Venus and Caroline between points Hong Kong, Withdrawals #9 Daniela Hantuchova SVK withdrew from further competition after 1st round loss to Anna Chakvetadze

    (Dec 27, 2007 revised) # 142 Jarmila Gajdosova from Bratislava, Slovakia, who lives and trains in Sydney, Australia during the off-season, was granted a wild card at Gold Coast, and is listed on the drawsheet as an Australian. Although the WTA's database (as of this writing) still shows Jarmila as a Slovak, she applied for and has been granted Australian "residency" status, and apparently intends to become an Aussie citizen and play Fed Cup for Australia. Jarmila said: "It's really exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing my name with the Australian flag next to it,." The Australian story

    (Dec 27, 2007 revised) # 7 Serena Williams, the 2007 Australian Open champ, has not yet arrived in Perth, Australia for the 2008 Hopman Cup. The reason was originally reported to be a lingering left knee injury, but later it was stated that Serena was delayed by illness. Serena will be replaced by # 52 Meghann Shaughnessy for Saturday's match against # 31 Sania Mirza of India. Serena intends to be well enough to play # 23 Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic on Monday. AP story
    After playing Sania in Perth on Saturday, Meghann will have to fly 2254 miles (3628 kilometers) to Gold Coast to play # 24 Francesca Schiavone in the 1st round of the Australian Women's Hardcourts.

    (May 30, 2007) The Rebound Ace courts used since 1988 for the Australian Open and the events leading up to it will be replaced, beginning in 2008, by a less cushioned surface created by the US company Plexipave, called Plexicushion, which will be installed by Aussie company William Loud. WTA story

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

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

Link to many postmatch interview & match highlight videos of WTA players at the 2008 WTA Player Videos page.

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