from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, won again, defeating 23-year-old 4th-seeded # 4
from Belgrade, Serbia (with a spare house in Miami, and one under construction in San Diego),
(Jelena is shown during the match; Serena is shown with the goodies afterward).
Serena took a 5-0 lead in the 3rd set, after which Jelena won three straight games, and successfully defended seven match points before Serena won on the eighth.
Serena struck 12 aces with 6 double faults, but converted only 8 of 22 break point opportunities (Jelena: 1 ace, 5 DFs, 5 of 10 break points converted). Serena put 59% of her 1st serves in the box and won 69% of those points; 74% of Jelena's 1st serves were good, but she won only 46% of those points.
Serena tied a record held by Steffi Graf by winning the title a fifth time. Serena's pre-tax prize is $590,000; Jelena's winnings: $295,000.
"I was definitely up and on my way to glory, and out of there within an hour. But I started making a lot of mistakes. Then Jelena obviously started playing--when you have nothing to lose it's like you play like you have nothing to lose, and those are the most dangerous people in life on the court. So I think she just started making some great shots and putting a few more balls in play, and I started missing some important shots...
"I think she's definitely unpredictable. She's hitting shots down the line and she'll mix it up and go crosscourt, she'll hit a lob. She's not someone you can say, 'I know she's going to do this at this point.' You have to always be on your toes."
"I think the first couple games in the third set were the crucial games, which I let them go, and I had game points in the first game, third set and the second...
"I thought that Serena really had trouble closing out the match... But she was very strong, especially in the first set. When she's playing her best tennis, when she's serving well, it's just tough to match up against her...
"But I was trying my best out there... She was the better one today, and she's the winner of this tournament."
. Jelena won their previous meeting, on a Plexipave hard court in the quarterfinals of this year's
, 6-3, 6-4.
is now 30-ll in WTA singles finals (eight of her titles were in Grand Slam tourneys); she also won the title in Bangalore less than three weeks ago, and has a 14-1 match record in 2008.
, the only player to defeat Serena so far this year, is now 5-9 in WTA singles finals; she won four of her five titles last year in Auckland, Charleston, Rome, and Birmingham, one each on hardcourt, green clay, red clay, and grass. Jelena had some injury problems early in the year, and is currently playing with a cold; nevertheless she is 20-7 in 2008.
WTA SCOREBOARD: The Sony Ericsson Open at Key Biscayne (Miami)
Sony Ericsson Open, Miami, Florida
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NWS weather radar
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tourney time: = GMT -4 hours
= US EDT
= US PDT +3 hours
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Miami news
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Miami: The main draw for this 96-player, two week, seven round tourney has 32 seeds, with 32 1st-round byes. There are 12 qualifiers and 9 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying (2 rounds) is on Monday & Tuesday.
Main draw play begins on Wednesday, at 10am on the outer courts, 11am on the Stadium and Grandstand courts.
2008: row 1: On Wednesday, March 26, top doubles team Liezel Huber & Cara Black did the toll booth thing at Key Biscayne, stopping traffic ("None shall pass...") and extracting $1.25 from all comers... At the All Access Hour, top seeds Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Daniela Hantuchova, Anna Chakvetadze, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, and Justine Henin posed for a group pic, and Maria Sharapova, not playing here, told the press about taking some time off for rest and shoulder recovery... row 2: After alerting the media, Daniela Hantuchova got dressed for the "Kick Off" players party, as did other good looking ladies including Mashona Washington, Serena Williams, Jelena Jankovic, row 3: Nicole Vaidisova, Anna Chakvetadze, Maria Sharapova & Miami Beachian Anna Kournikova (still out with chronic back pain, but playing WTT & exhibs), Svetlana Kuznetsova and Nadia Petrova... row 4: On Thursday, the annual SE-WTA awards ceremony was held: Justine Henin was chosen Player of the Year, Ana Ivanovic was awarded Most Improved and got the Sportsmanship award as well, Liezel Huber & Cara Black were Doubles Team of the Year (Liezel received the Player Service Award also), Lindsay Davenport Comeback Player of the Year, and Agnes Szavay Newcomer of the Year...
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Miami, 1st Rd, Wed-Thu 10am
loser's prize: $5,800; points: 1
*#54 Shuai Peng CHN d #37 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 1-1 retired--right knee injury Thu
Shuai driving a forehand, and Eleni after falling and injuring her knee
#38 Lucie Safarova CZE d #88 wc Sorana Cirstea ROU 6-1, 7-5 Thu
#39 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #183 wc Anastasia Pivovarova RUS 6-3, 7-6(2) Thu
Anastasia's forehand, and Ai's backhand drive
#40 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #82 LL Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-1, 6-2 Thu
*#84 q Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #41 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-3, 6(6)-7, 6-2 Thu
#42 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #50 Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-1, 6-3 Thu
#45 Tathiana Garbin ITA d #320 wc Melanie Oudin USA 7-5, 2-6, 6-1 Thu
Melanie about to swat a backhand, and Tathiana's forehand
#46 Tamira Paszek AUT d #49 Alize Cornet FRA 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 Thu
#47 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #74 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 6-4, 7-5 Wed
*#81 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR d #48 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-4, 7-6(1) Wed
Gisela spinning a forehand, and Tatiana driving one, perhaps with a little less english
*#72 Sara Errani ITA d #51 Akiko Morigami JPN 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Wed
Akiko lining up a backhand, and Sara driving one
#53 Elena Vesnina RUS d #111 Elena Likhovtseva RUS 6-4, 6-4 Wed
Elena L following a forehand, and Elena V driving one
*#147 q Aleksandra Wozniak CAN d #55 Aravane Rezai FRA 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 Thu
*#76 q Anastasia Rodionova AUS d #56 Casey Dellacqua AUS 6-2, 7-6(1) Wed
*#64 Edina Gallovits ROU d #57 Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-4, 6-1 Wed
#58 Kaia Kanepi EST d #131 q Petra Kvitova CZE 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 Wed
*#100 wc Marina Erakovic NZL d #60 Martina Muller GER 6-4, 6(4)-7, 6-2 Wed
*#119 q Vania King USA d #61 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 Wed
Meghann, in her first tourney since injuring her left knee at the Hopman Cup in Perth in January, about to slice a backhand, and Vania driving one
#65 Sofia Arvidsson SWE d #118 q Tatiana Poutchek BLR 6-4, 6-3 Thu
*#117 q Rossana de Los Rios PAR d #66 Yvonne Meusburger AUT 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 Wed
#67 Yung-Jan Chan TPE d #77 Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 Wed
*#83 Marta Domachowska POL d #68 Jill Craybas USA 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(6) Wed
Marta and Jill driving backhands
Marta said: "In the second I did really a lot of errors and easy mistakes. I think in the first and second and third set I was just trying to play my game, and in the important moments to don't be afraid and just do my best...
"My game is that I'm trying to all the time put pressure. I think I did a lot of errors, but I had some winners also. So I think that in the important moments I had more winners than errors." postmatch interview
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*#87 Angelique Kerber GER d #69 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 7-5, 6-1 Wed
#71 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #89 q Aiko Nakamura JPN 6-0, 6-0 Wed
Aiko about to swat a backhand, and Nathalie after match point
#73 Ashley Harkleroad USA d #138 q Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI 6-4, 6-3 Wed
#78 Camille Pin FRA d #96 q Olga Savchuk UKR 6-1, 7-5 Thu
*#251 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #79 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 Wed
*#92 Emilie Loit FRA d #80 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP 7-6(1), 6-4 Thu
Emilie serving, and Vivi driving a forehand
*#110 Milagros Sequera VEN d #91 Yaroslava Shvedova RUS 6-3, 6-4 Thu
*#105 q Ekaterina Bychkova RUS d #102 wc Stephanie Dubois CAN 6-3, 6-3 Thu
*#216 sr60 Jie Zheng CHN d #113 q Galina Voskoboeva RUS 6-2, 7-6(3) Thu
#140 wc Sabine Lisicki GER d #497 wc Coco Vandeweghe USA 6-4, 7-5 Thu
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Miami, 2nd Rd, Fri-Sat 10am
loser's prize: $10,580; points: 30
#1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #87 Angelique Kerber GER 6-4, 6-2 Fri
Justine driving a backhand
Justine fired 10 aces in the match, her first since losing to # 23 Francesca Schiavone in the quarterfinals in Dubai on February 28, 7-6(3), 7-6(4). Justine now has a 13-2 match record in 2008.
Justine said: "I did spend a lot of time on my serve in the last few weeks. But I had to spend my time also a lot in the gym and really working hard, trying to get confidence back in my strength. And I've been working hard.
"I feel much better physically today than a few weeks ago. That's for sure. So we could see it in my serve... I feel that everything is better now. But I still have to improve my game. It was my first match, and I didn't play for a few weeks, but I just feel much better than I was a few weeks ago...
"I really hit my first serve, then I'm aggressive behind. Also on the second serve I take some risks, but I almost serve at 100 miles an hour on my second serve. That's good. That's the way I have to serve, because I have one of the best second serves on the circuit." postmatch interview - Reuters story
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#2 s2 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #92 Emilie Loit FRA 6-1, 6-2 Sat
Ana serving to Emilie
Ana won the Pacific Life Open title last week at Indian Wells. About the difference between the two tourneys, Ana said: "Obviously, the time difference [3 hours] is a little bit hard. So you need some time to adjust as well. But it's completely different feeling here. The balls are different, the courts, the wind. It's humid; there it was really dry. So I really approach it like a new tournament. I want to focus on each match separately, and try to keep the level up." postmatch interview fragment
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#3 s3 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #67 Yung-Jan Chan TPE 6-1, 3-6, 6-0 Fri
Svetlana fielding a backhand on the run, and Yung-Jan driving one
#4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #65 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6(7)-7, 6-2, 7-6(9) Sat
Jelena driving a forehand, and Sofia's backhand
#6 s5 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #46 Tamira Paszek AUT 6-3, 6-2 Sat no photos available
#7 s6 Venus Williams USA d #83 Marta Domachowska POL 6-4, 6-3 Fri
Venus driving a forehand, and Marta's backhand
#8 s7 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #110 Milagros Sequera VEN 6-2, 6-1 Sat
Milagros driving a forehand, and Daniela's backhand
#9 s8 Serena Williams USA d #64 Edina Gallovits ROU 6-1, 6-2 Fri
Edina and Serena driving backhands
Serena said: "It wasn't too tough of a match, but it was a good match to play. If I would have played different the scoreline would have been different, so it was important for me to play the away that I played... It was just things I've been doing in practice that I wanted to just turn around and do in my match." postmatch interview
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*#47 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #10 s9 Marion Bartoli FRA 6-3, 6-1 Fri no photos available
#11 s10 Elena Dementieva RUS d #42 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 6-0, 6-4 Sat
Elena serving, and Kateryna & Elena driving backhands
#12 s11 Patty Schnyder SUI d #119 q Vania King USA 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-2 Fri
Patty's service toss, Vania lining up a forehand, and Patty driving one
*#84 q Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #14 s12 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 6-4, 6-0 Sat
#15 s13 Dinara Safina RUS d #147 q Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 6-2, 6-2 Sat
Aleksandra's backhand, and Dinara after winning a point
*#216 sr60 Jie Zheng CHN d #16 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS 2-1 retired--right quadriceps strain Sat
*#53 Elena Vesnina RUS d #17 s15 Agnes Szavay HUN 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Fri
Agnes and Elena driving backhands, and Elena after match point
#18 s16 Shahar Peer ISR d #71 Nathalie Dechy FRA 7-6(6), 6-3 Fri
Shahar about to connect with a backhand
*#251 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #19 s17 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 Fri
15-year-old Michelle driving a forehand, and after winning a point on the way to the biggest victory of her career
#20 s18 Sybille Bammer AUT d #45 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-2, 6-2 Sat
Sybille driving a backhand
#21 s19 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #105 q Ekaterina Bychkova RUS 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Sat
Ekaterina and Vera driving forehands
*#40 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #22 s20 Francesca Schiavone ITA 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Sat
*#58 Kaia Kanepi EST d #24 s21 Alona Bondarenko UKR 7-6(7), 1-6, 6-3 Fri
Kaia driving a backhand, and Alona following a twist serve
#25 s22 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #117 q Rossana de Los Rios PAR 6-2, 6-2 Fri
Katarina's backhand drive
*#73 Ashley Harkleroad USA d #26 s23 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-4, 6-4 Fri
Ashley preparing to serve
#27 s24 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #54 Shuai Peng CHN 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(2) Sat
Shuai's 2-handed forehand with backhand grip (like Marion Bartoli), and Amelie's 1-hander
#28 s25 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #81 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR 6-2, 6-4 Fri
*#72 Sara Errani ITA d #29 s26 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2) Fri
Maria and Sara driving forehands
#30 s27 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #76 q Anastasia Rodionova AUS 6-4, 6-2 Fri
*#39 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #31 s28 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-2, 6-3 Sat
*#100 wc Marina Erakovic NZL d #33 s30 Michaella Krajicek NED 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 Fri
Marina & Michaella driving forehands
*#38 Lucie Safarova CZE d #35 s31 Karin Knapp ITA 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 Sat
#36 s32 Lindsay Davenport USA d #78 Camille Pin FRA 6-2, 6-1 Sat
Camille driving a low forehand, and Lindsay's backhand
About playing #2 Ana Ivanovic in the 3rd round on Sunday, Lindsay said: "[Ana is] one of the few top players I've never played, and that's what I look forward to most about this come back. You know, I've played Venus and Serena and Justine and those players so many times. It would be refreshing to play someone new.
"I have a ton of respect for her. I think she's a great competitor, great player. I think that she is one of the nicest players off the court and very down to earth. She's got a very big game. I watched her play in Australia, especially the match against Daniela. I guess I was home that night watching that. But obviously big groundstrokes, a big serve. She looks like she's in a lot better shape than two years ago. She moves around the court pretty well.
"So it's going to be fun to play someone - I think she's 2 in the world now - and she's had a great year so far." postmatch interview
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*#140 wc Sabine Lisicki GER d #62 LL Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-1, 7-5 Sat
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Miami, 3rd Rd, Sun 11am
loser's prize: $20,400; points: 45
#1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #72 Sara Errani ITA 6-2, 6-1
Justine driving a forehand, and Sara's backhand
Justine said: "Generally I'm happy the way I played today. My serve was pretty good, especially in the first set, I agree with that. But I thought [Sara] was fighting good, and that I've been consistent, and I've been quite aggressive.
"It's very hot out there. It's humid and not that easy conditions, but it was good." postmatch interview
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*#36 s32 Lindsay Davenport USA d #2 s2 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-4, 6-2
Ana volleying a backhand, Lindsay following a backhand drive, and after match point
Lindsay said: "We had a really, really long tough first game, and I didn't win that game. I thought like that was a really important game. It turned out that it wasn't that big a deal. I was playing really well. I felt really confident out there. Was hitting the ball well.
"I thought going in, obviously [Ana has] had a great year so far. But it's very tough to play Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back... You never know what your opponent will bring, but I could tell she was maybe a little fatigued, and I tried to take advantage of that." postmatch interview
Ana said: "Obviously, first time you play against someone you try to get to know them, and try to get rhythm in the beginning. But against [Lindsay] you just don't get it.
"She was playing extremely well. She had always the first hit on her ball. It was kind of disappointing for me. I had chances in the beginning and didn't use them. Just my intensity wasn't up there today. When you play against such a champion, you need to be on the ball for each point." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #28 s25 Victoria Azarenka BLR 1-6, 7-5, 6-0
Victoria and Svetlana driving backhands
Victoria failed to convert a match point in the 2nd set. Svetlana said: "When she serves out, and matchpoint I was like, 'Oh, my god.' I saw that one was out, so I was pretty happy with that one...
"My only thought was like okay, 6-1, 5-2, I'm just one break down. Actually, if you don't look that side, you're just one break. But then it's lots of pressure, because I was not playing any well. So this is what I was working to change. I was not awake quite well. I was not moving that well.
"It's very different court. The stadium is much different than court No. 1 where I played before, and it's much different. But still I had to improve that I was working on it during the match... I started to move better and just play a little bit better. I didn't play well, but still I won the match...
"I think the conditions here than Indian Wells is very different. The ball is completely different. The ball bounce there like double higher. So, like my serve with spin, it's not doing the same thing that did there. Like I have to find another strokes. My forehand I can hit better here, but you need matches to get used to it. In difficult and critical moments, it's hard to understand everything...
"The balls are the same. The air is just humid, and the balls are very heavy, very heavy. I like these conditions. But still, from Indian Wells, you played three weeks with one balls, and then with one kind of thing you're used to it." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #38 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-2, 6-1
*#140 wc Sabine Lisicki GER d #6 s5 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 7-5, 6-1
Sabine's forehand, and Anna's backhand
#7 s6 Venus Williams USA d #100 wc Marina Erakovic NZL 6-2, 6-1
Venus driving a backhand
Venus said: "I played well. I think I played consistent and not too many errors, which is great for me. [Marina] brought a lot of balls back, and that was a challenge, but I was just winning all of the important points." postmatch interview
About not playing the the USA at Russia Fed Cup semifinals next month, Venus said: "I've tried to support Fed Cup as much as I could these few years, but sometimes I just get tired. Moscow's a long way, and I've had quite a few long trips already this year. I'm going to be playing Amelia and Charleston, so I just couldn't play five weeks in a row. Obviously, my commitment to the tour is very important to me also, so I just can't do everything."
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*#39 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #8 s7 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-4, 6(8)-7, 7-5
Ai's best shot, her backhand drive
#9 s8 Serena Williams USA d #30 s27 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6(6)-7, 6-3, 6-2
Serena reaching for a forehand, and Flavia's backhand
Serena was trailing Flavia by a set and a break--then there was a rain delay. Serena said: "I really just started fighting. I didn't want to lose... I definitely think [the rain delay] helped me for sure. But regardless, I was ready to get in there and do whatever I could to just stage a comeback." postmatch interview
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#11 s10 Elena Dementieva RUS d #40 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 6-0, 6(1)-7, 6-4
Dominika serving, and Elena driving a backhand
*#58 Kaia Kanepi EST d #12 s11 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-0, 6-1
#15 s13 Dinara Safina RUS d #20 s18 Sybille Bammer AUT 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
Sybille and Dinara driving forehands
#18 s16 Shahar Peer ISR d #251 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 6-0, 6-2
Michelle and Shahar driving forehands
#21 s19 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #84 q Alisa Kleybanova RUS 61 64
*#47 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #25 s22 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 2-6, 6-3, 6-1
*#216 sr60 Jie Zheng CHN d #27 s24 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 5-7, 6-4, 6-4
Jie and Amelie driving forehands
#53 Elena Vesnina RUS d #73 Ashley Harkleroad USA 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
Ashley and Elena driving forehands, and Elena after match point
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Miami, 4th Rd, Mon 11am
loser's prize: $38,570; points: 70
#1 s1 Justine Henin BEL d #53 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-2, 6-2
Elena about to swat a backhand, and Justine driving one
Justine said: "I played a very good first set actually. I have been consistent. I was serving very well.
"The wind was quite strong today, and I lost my intensity and my concentration in the second set a little bit, especially in that game that I did my four double faults. But I had really the sun in the eyes there and it was quite windy at that time of the match.
"But I'm happy the way I played, especially in the first set." postmatch interview
7-time Grand Slam tourney champ Justine will play 8-time Grand Slam tourney champ Serena Williams in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Justine and Serena are tied at 6-6 in career matches, but Justine has won the last three times they have played.
All three of those matches were quarterfinals in Grand Slam tourneys last year. On red clay at the French Open, Justine defeated Serena 6-4, 6-3 on her way to her 4th title at Roland Garros. On a chlorophyll court at The Championships at Wimbledon, Justine defeated Serena 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. And on the Deco Turf II hardcourt at the US Open, Justine defeated Serena again, 7-6(3), 6-1, on her way to her 2nd title at Flushing Meadows.
Justine said: "Actually it's a very good memory from last year even if I had match points and I lost the match. It was a day that I understood that could win against Serena and that I could do it in Grand Slams three times in the same year.
"So it doesn't mean I'm going to win tomorrow, but I think that that gave me a lot of confidence last year to beat her three times in a row in the Grand Slams.
"It's very good to have this kind of rivalry, because she's a champion and I think there was a lot of respect in our matches last year. Everyone was really excited about our meetings. If we ever have to play each other tomorrow it would be the case one more time, so I'm very excited about that."
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#3 s3 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #18 s16 Shahar Peer ISR 7-6(4), 6-3
Svetlana firing a cannonball, Shahar's backhand drive, and Sveta after match point
#4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #216 sr60 Jie Zheng CHN 6-4, 7-5
Jie reaching for a backhand, and Jelena volleying one
#7 s6 Venus Williams USA d #47 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-3, 6-3
Caroline about to connect with a backhand, and Venus launching one
Venus said: "I think I played some good tennis and aggressive when I needed to, and a lot of really good service games. So I played really good against a really good opponent... I've played [Caroline] a few times. She plays good defense, volleys well, tries to do the right thing, mixes it up. She's definitely got a good variety in her game. That's something a lot of players don't have." postmatch interview
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#9 s8 Serena Williams USA d #58 Kaia Kanepi EST 6-3, 6-3
Kaia and Serena driving backhands
Serena said: "I definitely had a lot less unforced errors, so I think that was pretty key. It was kind of up and down, though. [Kaia] was an interesting player. She didn't give me any kind of rhythm." postmatch interview
About her quarterfinal against Justine Henin, Serena said: "It's a shame it can't be in the finals, but I definitely look forward to playing [Justine]... I think we have a great rivalry. We definitely bring out some of the best tennis in each other, and she tends to play really well against me. Probably better against me than other opponents, so it's definitely a good match for me."
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#11 s10 Elena Dementieva RUS d #140 wc Sabine Lisicki GER 6-3, 6-2
Sabine and Elena driving backhands, and Elena after winning a point
#15 s13 Dinara Safina RUS d #36 s32 Lindsay Davenport USA 6-3, 6-4
Dinara serving to Lindsay, and Lindsay & Dinara driving backhands
Lindsay said: "This is the first match that I just really felt like I couldn't figure out a way to kind of get back into it. It was obviously windy today and hasn't been windy the rest of the tournament.
"[Dinara] did everything better than I did. She served really well. She got a lot of balls back and played very smart. I was just kind of fighting the wind, trying to find my shots. But she played well. I thought she served really, really well. I didn't get a lot of great chances to return. I think the wind kind of affected my serve, and she took advantage of that...
"I feel fine [Lindsay was stopped by a back injury at the previous tourney]. I wish I could say I didn't. No, physically I feel absolutely fine. I'm going to go out and play doubles here in about an hour, which is a good thing. Hopefully I can go back out and play a little bit better. No, I feel better." postmatch interview
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#21 s19 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #39 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-2, 6(5)-7, 6-0
Vera driving a forehand, and Ai's backhand
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Miami, QFs, Tue-Wed 11am
loser's prize: $73,500; points: 125
*#9 s8 Serena Williams USA d #1 s1 Justine Henin BEL 6-2, 6-0 Tue
Serena and Justine driving backhands, and Serena after match point
Serena said: "I didn't make as many errors as I usually do. I've been practicing like a champ. Today I finally started playing a little bit the way I've been practicing... I don't know why I do well here. Maybe it's something in the water [laughter]...
"Today I didn't make as many errors. I stayed positive no matter what happened. I think that was a good turnaround. Just mostly the errors. The error count wasn't nearly as high as it's been in the past." postmatch interview
Justine said: "It was a lot of intensity at the beginning of the match and it took a lot of energy. But [Serena] just has been better every part of the game, and I didn't do enough to win and she has been consistent. I didn't serve well enough...
"I wasn't moving her a lot, but it was quite difficult today... I knew she was going to be really aggressive, because the last time, last three times I beat her, so I knew she was going to go for it. She did a good job. I mean, she's very aggressive attacking the ball, and I think she did what she had to do, and I didn't do what I had to do, so that makes a big difference at the end...
"Looks like she was moving much better than last year, for sure. But I have a feeling that I really didn't do enough to take my opportunities. So many games I was leading and I didn't take my chances, and it was quite difficult." postmatch interview
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#3 s3 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #7 s6 Venus Williams 6-4, 6-4 Tue
Svetlana's best shot, her forehand, Venus driving a backhand, and Sveta about to connect with one
Svetlana said: "It was pretty ups and downs for me and for [Venus], but I guess I was more consistent and I played better. I served better. I served more consistently than she. I didn't have so many aces, but I was more consistent." postmatch interview
Venus said: "Just felt like I stepped slow and a little bit, little bit off. I just didn't have the answers today, and [Svetlana] played well." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #11 s10 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-1, 3-1 retired--back injury Wed
Jelena serving, Elena delivering a forehand on the run, and Jelena's backhand drive
Elena incurred the injury on Tuesday, and while playing it grew worse.
Elena said: "It just started yesterday, and I was just having problem with the back... it really bothered me during the games... I couldn't play because I felt like it was just getting worse, the back problem... I tried to do some treatment, to get some massage to relieve the pain, but it didn't help me a lot... I think it's just coming from playing hardcourts, and I never had it before...
"I think [Jelena] has the whole package of the game. She's moving well, has a good forehand, backhand. Whole game is very solid. She's very relaxed on the court and enjoys playing. She's a very tough opponent." postmatch interview
Jelena has been failing to get over a cold for a few weeks. But, Jelena said: "I think I played pretty good tennis, especially in the first set. I was really dictating the points. I thought that I played quite well. I didn't let her play her game... I was executing my shots well. I was really doing the right things and playing pretty well tactically." postmatch interview
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*#21 s19 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #15 s13 Dinara Safina RUS 7-5, 6-4
Vera firing a forehand, and Dinara driving a backhand
Vera said: "It's always tough to play against Dinara; she's a great player. She's quite tall, you know. She has a good serve. So I had to hang in there, had to fight for every point, and I think I did it well and I was able to win key points. I'm really happy about that." postmatch interview
Vera will play Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals on Thursday. Jelena and Vera are tied at 2-2 in career matches; Jelena won their last meeting, but it was close: on a Rebound Ace hardcourt in the Auckland final last year, 7-6(9), 5-7, 6-3.
Vera said: "We had tough matches. I remember the final [in Auckland]. It was a good final. Good fight. She's obviously a great player. She's always fights. She stays in the matches."
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Miami, SFs, Thu 11am
loser's prize: $147,500; points: 225
*#9 s8 Serena Williams USA d #3 s3 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Svetlana's backhand, Serena driving one, and Sveta congratulating Serena after match point
Serena was slowed by a back problem early in the match. Serena said: "The physio came out, and I started to feel better right after she treated me. The first time I felt a lot better, and each time she came out it kept getting better. I just got stuck, like out of nowhere I just got stuck. It was just completely out of the blue, but it got better... once she came out it got better, like straightaway, and it got even better after that...
"I played a really good opponent today who has been down several match points in this tournament already, so I knew going in she wasn't just going to give it to me." postmatch interview
When Serena served to begin the 2nd set, Sveta held two break points, but failed to convert them.
Svetlana said: "I think if I played the right points at the right time it would be a little bit more lucky and I would have done it in two sets, because I was a set up and 15-40 and there was a possibility to go for it.
"To me, it seemed when I was on the top of the result and top of the game, I was playing too careful and [Serena] was better. She was playing better. When she was up, I was playing better...
"In the third set she served better in the end. She played good. But I still, every game, I had opportunity, I had it like every single game. Sometimes she just played incredible shots. You know, it's just tennis. She just played better in the third set. I think I could have finished it in two, but she's a good player. It was a tough match." postmatch interview
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#4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #21 s19 Vera Zvonareva RUS 6-1, 6-4
Jelena's forehand, and Vera & Jelena driving backhands
Jelena won despite playing with a cold and a stiff back. Jelena said: "I got a little bit stiff and I had a little bit of pain during the second set, but I think I will be fine. I will get some treatment now, and then tomorrow, loosen up a little bit, and that's it. I've been working on my serve quite a lot, and been working on the getting stronger, especially my shoulder, so it's not surprising that I'm a little bit tightening up, but that's what I have to do in order to get better, in order to get stronger...
"Being a little bit sick it obviously doesn't help, but I was really focused out there. I tried to hit as much as I can, you know, dictate the points. I served pretty well, especially those last two games. The serve was the main shot that helped me win the match, and I was really happy with that.
"Obviously, during the night, the conditions are a lot different, because the balls are fluffier and the points get a lot longer than during the day. Some of the shots you hit would normally be winners, and then at night it's not. You can still get them back. So the rallies are a lot longer. It's tougher work out there. But I managed to do it, and I'm happy to win the match and looking forward to my final against Serena." postmatch interview
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Miami, Final, Sat, noon
loser's prize: $295,000; points: 350
winner's prize: $590,000; points: 500
*#9 s8 Serena Williams USA d #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6-1, 5-7, 6-3
Serena's forehand, Jelena's backhand, and Serena after match point
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Miami, Doubles Final, Sun
losers' prize: $106,000
winners' prize: $185,000
*cdr7 s2 Katarina Srebotnik & Ai Sugiyama d cdr2 s1 Cara Black & Liezel Huber 7-5, 4-6 (10-3)
Katarina's 17th WTA doubles title & Ai's 35th; their 2nd title as a team
Miami, Qualifying Finals, Tue Mar 25 10am
losers' prizes: q1 $1,000 1pt; q2 $2,000 10pts; qualifier 20 points
*#105 Ekaterina Bychkova RUS d #62 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-1, 7-5
#76 Anastasia Rodionova AUS d #132 Anne Keothavong GBR 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
*#117 Rossana de Los Rios PAR d #82 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-4, 7-6(5)
#84 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #783 sr Mashona Washington USA 6-1, 6-2
*#118 Tatiana Poutchek BLR d #86 Meng Yuan CHN 6-0, 6-2
#89 Aiko Nakamura JPN d #106 Anne Kremer LUX 6-1, 6-3
*#147 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN d #94 Petra Cetkovska CZE 6-4, 6-1
*#138 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI d #95 Lilia Osterloh USA 6-1, 6-3
#96 Olga Savchuk UKR d #299 Audra Cohen USA 5-7, 6-2, 6-4
*#119 Vania King USA d #101 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 6-1, 6-2
#113 Galina Voskoboeva RUS d #143 Melinda Czink HUN 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5)
#131 Petra Kvitova CZE d #560 Tamaryn Hendler BEL 6-1, 6-1
Miami, Withdrawals
#5 Maria Sharapova RUS right shoulder
#13 Tatiana Golovin FRA had surgery on March 12 to remove a left hip cyst that was
causing pain, appendix was removed as well--hopes to be playing by French Open
#23 Na Li CHN
#32 s29 Sania Mirza IND right wrist
#34 Julia Vakulenko UKR
#43 Zi Yan CHN illness
#44 Vera Dushevina RUS
#52 Mara Santangelo ITA
#63 Meilen Tu USA
#99 Alicia Molik AUS
#254 sr 70 Vasilisa Bardina RUS
#585 sr 46 Jamea Jackson USA
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in Miami due to pain in her right wrist. Sania, who was seeded 29th and had a 1st round bye, was replaced by "Lucky Loser" # 62
, the highest-ranked player to lose in the qualifying finals. Right wrist pain has been a chronic problem for Sania, and it was particularly troublesome to her in the past two weeks at Indian Wells.
citing a right shoulder injury, which, apparently, is not major. After her first loss of the year (to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the
Shoulder pain, which kept Maria sidelined often from 2005-2007, occured during her 4th round win over Alona Bondarenko. Maria's agent,
"She's going to take a week off and not play any tennis... It was nothing major, but after everything that happened last year, she was a little scared... She has a very loose shoulder. It helps with the serve because she gets that extra whip, but the problem is that when fluid gets in there it's very hard to treat and hard to get out."
"I think I sort of jammed it a little bit, so I wanted to give it some rest... There are good things and bad things to having a loose shoulder. I'm very flexible and my joints are very loose. In a way that's very good because your body is not tight, but on the other hand you're very loose and more prone to getting injured."
About requesting a wild card for either of the two tourneys following Miami, at Amelia Island and Charleston,
"If I'm ready, and if I've had a good week or nine days of practice, then I would definitely consider taking those wildcards."
, which was visible in scans taken in April, but was not detected at the time. Maria had unknowingly played with the tendon torn from April through July.
on March 12 to remove a left hip cyst that was causing pain. While the doctors had the hood open, they decided to remove her appendix as well, just to be on the safe side. Tatiana
Link to many postmatch interview & match highlight videos of WTA players at the
: the current top 20 Women's Tennis rankings with player photos, links, and bio info.
