WTA June 8-14: Birmingham AEGON Classic Birmingham, GBR Edgbaston Priory Club INTL $220,000 56m/32q/16d outdoor: grass Live Scores - in popup window draws: qual - main - doub - OOP     WTA .pdf: Q - MD - D - OOP pics: Y!: sports     news BC - news ED | WTA Birmingham: radar - forecast #15 Jie Zheng #18 Kaia Kanepi #24 Aleksandra Wozniak #25 Na Li #27 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova #38 Ekaterina Makarova #40 Francesca Schiavone #44 Sara Errani #45 Bethanie Mattek-Sands #47 Maria Kirilenko #48 Anne Keothavong #102 Maria Sharapova

Tourney pages: Birmingham: 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 previous other tourney pages next Birmingham: #25 Na Li 5'7¾" 137lb RH 2H-BH Birmingham: #53 Magdalena Rybarikova 5'11" 143lb RH 2H-BH

    On Sunday in Birmingham, England, in the final of the AEGON Classic, 20-year-old 13th-seeded #53 Magdalena Rybarikova from Bratislava, Slovakia, won her first WTA singles title by defeating 27-year-old 4th-seeded # 25 Na Li from Wuhan, Hubei, China, 6-0, 7-6(2) (Na is shown during the match, Magdalena is shown making friends with the Maude Watson Trophy afterward).

    Magdalena's prize is $37,000; Na's is $19,000.

    2006 Wimbledon Juniors runner-up Magdalena said: "It's a great feeling, it's definitely the best moment of my career... I was okay to start with, and then in the second set I got very nervous. But now it's absolutely great. It's a dream...
    "I've always liked grass. I have a good serve, forehand and volley—I think it's my best surface."
    mp3 audio 1 - mp3 audio 2 - BBC story - WTA story

    Na said: "I was missing a lot today. It was much different than my match yesterday [defeating Maria Sharapova for the first time]. Yesterday was such a big win for me. I was still thinking about that and not thinking enough about today. [Magdalena] played really well though."

    Magda and Na had never before met on the field of combat.

    Magdalena is now 1-0 in WTA singles finals; she has won 4 ITF singles titles and 1 ITF doubles title. Magdalena has a 16-13 match record this season, and is 6-0 on grass courts.

    Na is now 2-4 in WTA singles finals; she won her titles at Gold Coast last year and at Guangzhou in 2004. Na is 22-10 in matches this year.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Birmingham s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? DFS Classic,  Birmingham, England   tourney time:        = GMT +1 hour        = US EDT +5 hours        = US PDT +8 hours England News - UK News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Birmingham: The main draw for Birmingham has 16 seeds, with 8 1st-round byes. There are 8 qualifiers and 5 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Sunday.   click for broader view   Edgbaston Priory Club Latitude: 52.458128 Longitude: -1.91263 goto link for World Wind DFS Classic venue address: The Edgbaston Priory Club, Sir Harrys Road, Birmingham, England 2009: On Saturday, June 6, at Birmingham, 2004 and 2005 tourney champion (and 2007 finalist) Maria Sharapova told members of the media that her right shoulder is indeed hunky-dory and that she is ready and rarin' to go...

Birmingham, 1st Round, Mon-Tues 11am loser's prize: $700 US; points: 1 Tuesday: rain stopped play *#116 Alexa Glatch USA d #45 s9 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA 7-6(2), 6-3 Mon *#76 Urszula Radwanska POL d #47 s10 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-3, 6-3 Mon Maria and Urszula driving forehand and backhand #48 s11 Anne Keothavong GBR d #143 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6-2, 6-2 Tue Anne driving a backhand     Anne said: "I was a little bit nervous at the start as it was my first match on grass, so it took me a while to get into it...     "I’ve got more confidence in myself now. Breaking into the top 100 was huge for my confidence and breaking into the top 50 was even harder...     "I love coming back here to the AEGON Classic as the crowd here in Birmingham always get behind me. It’s great to be seeded here for the first time. To be seeded and hopefully one of the title contenders is great." tourney story - mp3 audio clip #52 s12 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA d #70 Julie Coin FRA 7-6(1), 6-1 Mon Tammy driving a forehand #53 s13 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #131 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-4, 6-4 Mon #54 s14 Roberta Vinci ITA d #93 Severine Bremond FRA 6-3, 6-2 Mon #57 s15 Aravane Rezai FRA d #124 LL Mariana Duque Marino COL 6-4, 6-1 Tue-rain-Wed #62 s16 Melinda Czink HUN d #193 q Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 6-4, 6-3 Tue #63 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #123 Anastasija Sevastova LAT 6-4, 6-3 Mon *#79 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE d #66 Ayumi Morita JPN 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 Tue #73 Jarmila Groth SVK/AUS d #106 Vania King USA 6-4, 6-4 Mon #75 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS d #361 q Naomi Broady GBR 5-7, 7-6, 6-4 Tue-rain-Wed #78 Olga Govortsova BLR d #107 Yung-Jan Chan TPE 7-6(7), 6-2 Mon #84 Julia Goerges GER d #144 q Anastasia Rodionova RUS/AUS 6-4, 6-2 Tue #85 Petra Cetkovska CZE d #103 Stephanie Foretz FRA 7-6(5), 6-3 ppd-Tue #94 Mariya Koryttseva UKR v #201 q Yulia Fedossova FRA Tue c2 m2 #95 Sania Mirza IND d #173 q Tatiana Poutchek BLR 6-1, 6-2 Tue Sania after match point *#149 q Chanelle Scheepers RSA d #98 Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ 6(5)-7, 7-6(7), 6-3 Tue-rain-Wed #228 q Lilia Osterloh USA d #99 Maria Elena Camerin 7-6(4), 7-5, 6-3 Tue-rain-Wed #102 Maria Sharapova RUS d #111 Stephanie Dubois CAN 6-4, 6-2 Mon Maria following a forehand, and thanking the fans after match point (no news pics of Stephanie have yet become available)     Maria said: "I thought I did a really good job of getting into the groove of playing on grass again. My goal today was to get used to the grass and [Stephanie], who I hadn’t played before.     "I have tremendous memories from here. It seems that the fans have grown up with me here as I have played here since I was younger. That’s one of the reasons why I keep coming back." tourney story #104 Stephanie Voegele SUI d #136 q Carly Gullickson USA 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 Tue *#121 Melanie South GBR d #113 wc Katie O'Brien GBR 6-4, 1-6, 7-6(5) Mon *#348 wc Naomi Cavaday GBR d #120 Julie Ditty USA 6-2, 7-6(2) Mon #126 wc Elena Baltacha GBR d #182 wc Georgie Stoop GBR 6-3, 6-4 Mon

Birmingham, 2nd Round, Wed 11am loser's prize: $1,350 US; points: 15 Wednesday: rain stopped play     Thursday: play resumed after rain delay #15 s1 Jie Zheng CHN d #121 Melanie South GBR 6-3, 6-1 ppd-Thu Melanie and Jie driving forehands #24 s3 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN d #78 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-4, 6-4 Wed #25 s4 Na Li CHN d #73 Jarmila Groth SVK/AUS 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 ppd-Thu Na's forehand drive, and Jarmila's backhand #27 s5 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS d #126 wc Elena Baltacha GBR 6(1)-7, 6-3, 7-6(3) ppd-Thu Elena and Anastasia driving backhands *#104 Stephanie Voegele SUI d #38 s6 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 Wed Stephanie showing slice as she prepares to swat a backhand     Stephanie has never before advanced so far in a WTA main draw. Her previous best win came only last week, over #63 Yanina Wickmayer in the semifinals of the Nottingham ITF tourney, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(6). #99 Maria Elena Camerin defeated Stephanie to take the Nottingham title, 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. #40 s7 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #94 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-1, 6-1 ppd-Thu *#84 Julia Goerges GER d #44 s8 Sara Errani ITA 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 Wed-rain-Thu *#95 Sania Mirza IND d #48 s11 Anne Keothavong GBR 6-1, 7-6(5) Wed Anne following a backhand, and Sania driving one *#348 wc Naomi Cavaday GBR d #52 s12 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-4 Wed #53 s13 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #149 q Chanelle Scheepers RSA 6(8)-7, 6-1, 6-3 ppd-Thu #54 s14 Roberta Vinci ITA d #228 q Lilia Osterloh USA 6-4, 6-2 ppd-Thu #57 s15 Aravane Rezai FRA d #75 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 7-6(12), 3-6, 6-2 ppd-Thu #62 s16 Melinda Czink HUN d #79 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE 6-2, 6-3 Wed-rain-Thu #63 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #128 Michaella Krajicek NED 6-2, 6-4 ppd-Thu Yanina drivng a backhand #76 Urszula Radwanska POL d #85 Petra Cetkovska CZE 6-3, 7-5 Wed-rain-Thu #102 Maria Sharapova RUS d #116 Alexa Glatch USA 6-3, 6-4 Wed-rain-Thu Maria driving a forehand on Wednesday

Birmingham, 3rd Round, Thu 11am loser's prize: $2,600 US; points: 30 *#53 s13 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #15 s1 Jie Zheng CHN 7-6(10), 6-4 *#62 s16 Melinda Czink HUN d #24 s3 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 6(7)-6, 7-5, 7-5 #25 s4 Na Li CHN d #57 s15 Aravane Rezai FRA 7-5, 6-4 *#95 Sania Mirza IND d #27 s5 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2 Sania's forehand drive *#102 Maria Sharapova RUS d #40 s7 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-1, 6-3 Francesca about to swat a forehand, and Maria following a backhand drive *#63 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #54 s14 Roberta Vinci ITA 6-1, 6-4 #76 Urszula Radwanska POL d #84 Julia Goerges GER 7-6(3), 6-3 #104 Stephanie Voegele SUI d #348 wc Naomi Cavaday GBR 6-4, 6-2 Naomi following a flying forehand, and Stephanie driving a backhand

Birmingham, QFs, Fri 11am loser's prize: $5,000 US; points: 70 #25 s4 Na Li CHN d #104 Stephanie Voegele SUI 6-3, 7-6(3) Stephanie and Na driving forehand and backhand #53 s13 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #76 Urszula Radwanska POL 6-3, 6-3 Urszula and Magdalena driving backhands *#102 Maria Sharapova RUS d #63 Yanina Wickmayer BEL 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 Yanina driving a forehand, Maria following a backhand, and after match point     Maria said: "I thought I started off really well and the tennis was at a pretty high level. But I started slowing down in the second set and let [Yanina] get back in the match. She looked pretty comfortable on the grass. With an opponent like that, you can’t let her get back in the game." tourney story *#95 Sania Mirza IND d #62 s16 Melinda Czink HUN 6-1, 7-6(4) Melinda driving a backhand, Sania following a forehand, and after match point     Sania said: "I struggled a little in the clay season, so it’s great to be finally on the grass as I always play well on it. I was just trying to play my game as much as possible today and be aggressive. It’s been a great week so far and a great tune-up for Wimbledon. Hopefully I’ll have a good match tomorrow."

Birmingham, SFs, Sat noon loser's prize: $10,000 US; points: 130 #25 s4 Na Li CHN d #102 Maria Sharapova RUS 6-4, 6-4 Na firing a flying forehand, Maria and Na driving backhands, and Na after match point     It was Na's first win over Maria in six meetings. Last week, in the 4th round at Roland Garros, Maria defeated Na 6-4, 0-6, 6-4. After that match, Na said: "I would say she's top player in all the world."     Maria was playing in her second tourney after recovering from a torn right shoulder rotator cuff tendon (Maria's rank was #1 in May, 2008, and fell to #126 while she was injured). During a similar period of time, Na, whose career-high rank is # 16, has been struggling to recover from a bad right knee injury which also required surgery.     Na said: "My return of serve was so good today. I broke [Maria] many times [six] so it did not feel like a grass court match. I lost to her so many times before, so I thought if I lose again then I should not worry. That made me very relaxed today." tourney story     Maria said: "I had many chances in this match, but I have played five matches in the last six days, and after that you just hope you wake up with that intensity you need. Against [Na] you need that." AP story #53 s13 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #95 Sania Mirza IND 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 Sania driving a backhand, Magdalena volleying a forehand, and after match point     Magdalena used serve and volley tactics in the 2nd and 3rd set. Magdalena said: "It is very good to play at the net on grass as the other girls don’t like it, so it’s obviously something very different for them...     About playing Na Li in the final, Magdalena said: "Tomorrow will be very exciting for me as it’s my first final. It’s going to be very tough though, as Li Na is a great player. I have to serve well and play aggressive and come to the net if I want to win."

Birmingham, Final, Sun noon loser's prize: $19,000 US; points: 200 winner's prize: $37,000 US; points: 280 *#53 s13 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #25 s4 Na Li CHN 6-0, 7-6(2) Na and Magdalena driving forehands, and Magda after match point

Birmingham, Doubles Final, Sun after singles loser's prize: $5,800 winner's prize: $11,000 cdr 2 s1 Cara Black & Liezel Huber d cdr76 s4 Raquel Kops-Jones & Abigail Spears 6-1, 6-4 Birmingham, Qualifying Finals, Sun Jun 7 (rain) Mon Jun 8 losers' prizes: q1 $190 1pt; q2 $360 6 pts; qualifier 10 points *#228 Lilia Osterloh USA d #124 Mariana Duque Marino COL 6-3, 7-6(3) Mon *#173 Tatiana Poutchek BLR d #128 Michaella Krajicek NED 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 Mon *#149 Chanelle Scheepers RSA d #132 Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 6-1, 6-3 Sun #136 Carly Gullickson USA d #428 Raquel Kops-Jones USA 6-1, 7-5 Mon #144 Anastasia Rodionova RUS/AUS d #163 Rika Fujiwara JPN 5-7, 7-5, 6-2 Mon #193 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #285 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-3, 7-6(6) Mon *#361 Naomi Broady GBR d #195 Abigail Spears USA 6(4)-7, 6-3, 6-3 Mon #201 Yulia Fedossova FRA d #235 Natalie Grandin RSA 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 Sun Birmingham, Withdrawals #18 s2 Kaia Kanepi EST left knee injury #32 Samantha Stosur AUS back injury #36 Virginie Razzano FRA low back injury #41 Sorana Cirstea ROU back injury #61 Tamira Paszek AUT #67 Lucie Hradecka CZE back injury #69 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL #65 Nathalie Dechy FRA low back injury #80 Jelena Dokic AUS low back injury #82 Marina Erakovic NZL left hip injury #97 Jill Craybas USA right shoulder injury #109 Mara Santangelo ITA back injury #551 sr84 Laura Granville USA illness

    The 4-week chlorophyll court season begins this week at Birmingham, followed by Eastbourne and s'Hertengobosch next week, and then the Wimbledon fortnight.

    Birmingham is the tourney that may have the lowest total prize $ to # of players ratio of the WTA Tour. The 56 players in the main draw (and 24 more who lost in qualifying) are there to get some time in playing on grass to prepare for Wimbledon, more than for the $220,000 prize money. Next week at Eastbourne, the last week before Wimbledon, there will be about half as many players, and almost 3 times as much prize money.

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

Current WTA Results & Tennis News (tennis home page) - 2009 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.