WTA May 9-17: Madrid Madrid Open Madrid, ESP + ATP PREMIER M €3,500,000 60m/32q/28d outdoor: red clay Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf: draws & OOP - notes tourney: results - OOP - draws pics: Y!: sports - news     tourney - WTA Madrid: weather radar - forecast Spain News #1 Dinara Safina #2 Serena Williams #3 Elena Dementieva #4 Jelena Jankovic #5 Venus Williams #6 Vera Zvonareva #8 Svetlana Kuznetsova #9 Victoria Azarenka #10 Nadia Petrova #11 Caroline Wozniacki #12 Agnieszka Radwanska

Tourney pages: Madrid: 2007 WTA Champ's - 2006 WTA Champ's - 2003 Spanish Open previous other tourney pages next Madrid: #11 Caroline Wozniacki 5'10" 128lb RH 2H-BH Madrid: #1 Dinara Safina 5'11½" 154½lb RH 2H-BH

    On Sunday in Spain, in the final of the Madrid Open, last week's champion in Rome, 23-year-old top-seeded # 1 Dinara Safina of Russia (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco), won again, defeating 18-year-old 9th-seeded # 11 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark (who also resides in Monte Carlo), 6-2, 6-4 (Caroline is shown during the match; Dinara is shown reflecting upon the hardware afterward).

    Dinara's prize is €620,000 (US $836,504); Caroline's prize is €310,000 (US $418,252).

    Dinara said: "I was feeling confident from the beginning and tried to be as aggressive as I could. I got a little bit tired at the end of the match but I was still dominant in the crucial moments. Caroline is a great player—she's very young and has time to improve. I think she can be very dangerous...

    "I have come to find my place. I feel comfortable being No.1. It was my dream from the beginning to be No.1 and I always believed I could get it. Once I got it, I was ready for it. That's why I think I'm enjoying it so much. Since I became No.1 I've played better and better." WTA story

    Dinara and Caroline had never before met on the field of combat.

    Valencia-trained 2009 Australian Open and 2008 French Open finalist Dinara is now 11-10 in WTA singles finals; she also won last week in Rome, and reached the final the previous week in Stuttgart. Dinara has a 28-6 match record this season, and has won 12 of her last 13 matches on red clay. Dinara is now the obvious favorite to win this year's French Open.

    Caroline is now 4-4 in WTA singles finals; she won the Ponte Vedra title last month, and also reached the Charleston (green clay) and Memphis finals this year. Caroline has a 35-11 record in 2009.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Madrid s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Madrid Open,  Madrid, Spain   tourney time:        = GMT +2 hours        = US EDT +6 hours        = US PDT +9 hours Spain News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Madrid: The 60-player main draw for Madrid has 16 seeds, with 4 1st-round byes. There are 8 qualifiers and 5 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Saturday.   click for broader view   La Caja Mágica, Madrid, Spain Latitude: 40.368667 Longitude: -3.684347 goto link for World Wind 2009: On Friday, May 8, Elena Dementieva and Caroline Wozniacki played underground tennis at a Madrid Metro station... On Saturday and Sunday, players including Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka alerted the media...

Madrid, 1st Rnd, Sat-Sun 10:30am, Mon 10am losers' prize: €7,825; points: 5 the four Rome semifinalists received 1st round byes *#44 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #2 s2 Serena Williams USA 6-4, retired—right knee injury Mon Francesca serving, Serena, left knee wrapped, following a forehand on the run, Fresca following a forehand, and the trainer checking out Serena's right knee     Serena has been troubled by left leg injuries since 2003, when she had surgery to repair a partial tear in the mid-portion of the quadriceps tendon of her left knee. She played the match with supports on her left thigh and left knee. But just before Serena retired from the match, the trainer was working on Serena's right knee.     Serena said: "I was just really hindered. My movement was hindered as a result of an injury I’ve been struggling with for some time." AP story #3 s3 Elena Dementieva RUS d #45 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA 6-4, 6-1 Sat #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #87 wc Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP 6-2, 6-1 Sun #10 s8 Nadia Petrova RUS d #31 Iveta Benesova CZE 6-0, 2-1 retired—illness Sat #11 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #54 Shahar Peer ISR 5-4 retired—right foot injury? Mon Caroline and Shahar following backhands *#32 Samantha Stosur AUS d #12 s10 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 7-6(4), 6-1 Sun *#26 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN d #13 s11 Marion Bartoli FRA 7-6(2), 6-2 Sat *#30 Agnes Szavay HUN d #14 s12 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6-3, 6(2)-7, 6-2 Sun *#55 q Elena Vesnina RUS d #15 s13 Alize Cornet FRA 7-5, 6-1 Sun *#58 q Vera Dushevina RUS d #16 s14 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-3, 6-4 Sun #17 s15 Jie Zheng CHN d #37 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-4, 6-4 Sat *#49 Lucie Safarova CZE d #19 s16 Kaia Kanepi EST 6-2, 2-3 retired—left hip injury Sun #20 Patty Schnyder SUI d #36 Sara Errani ITA 6-2, 6-3 Sun #21 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #34 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-2, 6-4 Mon Ai and Amelie driving forehands #22 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #113 wc Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP 6-4, 6-3 Sat Anna driving a forehand, and Vivi about to swat a backhand *#29 Na Li CHN d #23 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 Sun #24 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #189 wc Silvia Soler Espinosa ESP 6-3, 6-4 Sat *#50 Petra Kvitova CZE d #27 Sybille Bammer AUT 4-1, retired—neck sprain Sun *#33 Shuai Peng CHN d #28 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 6-1, 7-6(2) Mon #35 Virginie Razzano FRA d #46 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 Sat *#40 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #39 Gisela Dulko ARG 7-6(7), 6-1 Mon #41 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #42 Sorana Cirstea ROU 6-2, 6-2 Sun *#108 q Aravane Rezai FRA d #47 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 6-3, 6-4 Sun *#52 q Roberta Vinci ITA d #48 wc María José Martínez Sánchez ESP 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 Mon *#110 q Varvara Lepchenko USA d #51 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK 7-6(12), 5-7, 6-1 Mon Vavara's forehand drive #53 Anne Keothavong GBR d #124 q Mariana Duque Marino COL 6-3, 7-6(4) Sun *#57 q Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #56 Monica Niculescu ROU 6-1, 6-0 Sun #86 wc Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP d #89 q Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 7-6(5), 6-4 Sun

Madrid, 2nd Round, Mon-Wed 10am Tue WTA Story losers' prize: €15,150; points: 80 the four Rome semifinalists received 1st round byes #1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #29 Na Li CHN 6-3, 7-6(2) Wed Dinara serving, Na and Dinara driving backhands, and Dinara after winning a point #3 s3 Elena Dementieva RUS d #86 wc Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 6-3, 6-2 Mon Elena launching a swinging forehand volley #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #40 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 7-5, 6-2 Tue Jelena serving, Daniela following a backhand, Jelena driving one, Daniela driving another, Jelena blocking one back, Daniela serving, Jelena running down a forehand, and after match point     Jelena said: "Daniela played quite well today, especially in that first set. She was returning well. She broke me twice. She gave me a lot of trouble but I managed to stay positive and find a way to come back in that first set.     "I changed my tactics and tried to move her around more, and put pressure on her from the first ball of the second set. I was happy to get through this match." *#24 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #5 s5 Venus Williams USA 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 Tue Venus driving a forehand, and Alisa's backhand drive     It was the second time in her career that Alisa has defeated a top 5 player (and a former #1). The first time was in the 3rd round of this year's Australian Open, when Alisa defeated then #5 Ana Ivanovic, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-2.     Venus said: "It wasn't a good first set for me. I was really flat, and that gave [Alisa] confidence. After that she was playing for the win.     "I feel I'm playing really well on clay though. I feel good. I think it's important not to think too hard about this because I know I can play well, maybe just not every match." *#41 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #8 s6 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-3, 6-2 Wed Sveta driving a forehand, and Alona's backhand drive #9 s7 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #33 Shuai Peng CHN 6-4, 6-1 Wed Victoria driving a forehand, Shuai's backhand, and Vika after match point #10 s8 Nadia Petrova RUS d #57 q Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 4-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(5) Mon Nadia after match point #11 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #110 q Varvara Lepchenko USA 6-3, 6-1 Tue Caroline driving a forehand, and Varvara's backhand *#21 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #17 s15 Jie Zheng CHN 6-2, 7-5 Tue Jie delivering a smash, and Amelie driving a backhand #20 Patty Schnyder SUI d #26 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 6-2, 6-4 Mon #22 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #32 Samantha Stosur AUS 1-6, 6-2, 7-6(4) Mon #30 Agnes Szavay HUN d #108 q Aravane Rezai FRA 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 Tue *#55 q Elena Vesnina RUS d #35 Virginie Razzano FRA 7-5, 6-3 Mon #44 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #50 Petra Kvitova CZE 6-4, 6-2 Tue Francesca lobbing a forehand, and after winning a point #49 Lucie Safarova CZE d #53 Anne Keothavong GBR 6-1, 7-5 Tue *#58 q Vera Dushevina RUS d #52 q Roberta Vinci ITA 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Tue

Madrid, 3rd Round, Wed-Thu 10am Thu WTA story loser's prize: €27,500; points: 140 #1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #49 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 Thu Lucie and Dinara driving lefty and righty backhands, and Dinara after match point     Dinara said: "I started like I should have, aggressively. But suddenly after winning the first set I stopped and gave everything to [Lucie's] hands. I´m disappointed how I played the second and third sets. It was 0-2 and luckily she made a couple mistakes that gave me a chance to come back, but that's not really the way I try to win. I can take positives from the first set and hopefully tomorrow I can play two sets like that." *#21 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #3 s3 Elena Dementieva RUS 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 Wed Amelie and Elena firing forehands #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #55 q Elena Vesnina RUS 6-2, 6-2 Thu Elena serving, Jelena driving a forehand, and Elena and Jelena doing their Luke Skywalker impressions *#30 Agnes Szavay HUN d #9 s7 Victoria Azarenka BLR 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 Thu Vika driving a forehand on the run, and Agnes demonstrating the meaning of "racquet back" and driving a backhand *#20 Patty Schnyder SUI d #10 s8 Nadia Petrova RUS 6-4, 6(2)-7, 7-6(5) Wed #11 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN v #24 Alisa Kleybanova RUS 6-2, 6-2 Thu Alisa's service toss, Caroline driving a backhand, and Caro after winning the ranking points that will make her the first Danish player in history to reach the WTA top 10 #41 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #22 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-0, 2-8, 6-3 Thu Anna following a running backhand, and Alona volleying a forehand #58 q Vera Dushevina RUS d #44 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 Wed Francesca and Vera about to swat forehands

Madrid, QFs, Fri 11am losers' prize: €57,500; points: 250 #1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #41 Alona Bondarenko UKR 6-4, 6-3 Dinara and Alona driving forehands, and Dinara's backhand drive *#20 Patty Schnyder SUI d #4 s4 Jelena Jankovic SRB 7-6(6), 6-3 Patty driving a backhand, Jelena and Patty driving forehands, and Patty after winning a point #11 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #58 q Vera Dushevina RUS 6-0, 6-4 Vera waiting to swat a forehand, Caroline driving a backhand, and after match point #21 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #30 Agnes Szavay HUN 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 Amelie and Agnes launching backhand and forehand

Madrid, SFs, Sat 11am WTA story losers' prize: €135,500; points: 450 #1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS d #20 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-4, 6-2 Patty and Dinara driving backhands, and Dinara after match point     Dinara said: "I've been feeling pretty comfortable on the Tour since I became No. 1. I can't complain. I've played three finals in a row. It couldn't be better...     "[Caroline] is playing well and has had great results. I've never played or practiced with her, so I'm just looking forward to it." #11 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #21 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 7-6(1), 6-3 Caroline driving a forehand, Amelie's backhand, and Caroline after match point     Caroline said: "Even though she had set points in the first set I was able to pull through and win. I tried to make her play my game. It wasn't easy. Amélie was trying to make me go out of my rhythm, slicing and playing a lot of topspin. I just tried to focus, make her run, not make errors and take my chances."     Amelie said: "It was a tight one, a good fight. I came up a little bit short. That's how it was, but [Caroline] did great. Every time she made me play an extra shot."

Madrid, Final, Sun 1:30pm loser's prize: €310,000; points: 700 winner's prize: €620,000; points: 1000 #1 s1 Dinara Safina RUS b #11 s9 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-2, 6-4 Dinara serving, Caroline and Dinara driving backhands, and Dinara after match point

Madrid, Doubles Final, Sat losers' prize: €98,000 winners' prize: €196,000 cdr2 s1 Cara Black & Liezel Huber d cdr10 s3 Kveta Peschke & Lisa Raymond 4-6, 6-3, (10-6) Cara and Liezel at net Madrid, Qual Finals, Sat May 9 10:30am losers' prizes: q1 €1,050 1pt; q2 €2,170 20pts; qualifier 30 points #52 Roberta Vinci ITA d #63 Nathalie Dechy FRA 7-5, 6-0 #55 Elena Vesnina RUS d #84 Ayumi Morita JPN 6-1, 6-1 #57 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #136 Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 6-1, 6-0 #58 Vera Dushevina RUS d #102 Vania King USA 6-3, 6-1 *#110 Varvara Lepchenko USA d #75 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 #89 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB d #621 Ana Bogdan ROU 6-1, 6-1 *#124 Mariana Duque Marino COL d #90 Galina Voskoboeva RUS 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 *#108 Aravane Rezai FRA d #93 Jill Craybas USA 6-4, 6-4 Madrid, Withdrawals #6 Vera Zvonareva RUS tore left ankle ligaments in Charleston #7 Ana Ivanovic SRB right knee inflammation #18 Dominika Cibulkova SVK left thigh injury #25 Katarina Srebotnik SLO left achilles injury #68 Maria Sharapova RUS 2008 torn right shoulder rotator cuff tendon

    The Madrid Open was a new tourney for the WTA in 2009, and one of the largest on the new schedule. The tourney is held at a new €157.6 million venue, with 14 indoor and 16 outdoor courts.
    Three of the courts are inside a single building called La Caja Mágica (The Magic Box), with independently-retractable roofs for each of those three courts.
    Court Manolo Santana seats over 12,000 fans, Court Arantxa Sanchez Vicario seats 3194, and Court Stadium 3 seats 2730. design paintings and construction photos
    Madrid is no stranger to WTA tennis. In 2007 and 2006, the WTA Championships were held there, and up until 2003 the WTA Spanish Open was held in Madrid.

    (May 8, 2009) 2008 French Open champion and WTA # 7 Ana Ivanvic has withdrawn from the Madrid Open due to a right knee injury.
    Ana said: "My knee has been bothering me since the Fed Cup a couple of weeks ago. It’s become more painful with each match so I decided to go and see a specialist in Munich.
    "Unfortunately he and his staff told me that I need to take a break from playing matches, although I must work hard on my recovery during the next week. It’s very frustrating because I feel that my overall fitness is at its peak, and I have been practising very well.
    "At the moment there is no danger of me missing Paris: my focus is now on Roland Garros." anaivanovic.com story

    (Apr 28, 2009) Former WTA # 1 Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from next week's Italian Open in Rome, and from the following week's Madrid Open as well. Maria's right shoulder has still not fully recovered from a torn rotator cuff tendon she incurred in March of last year (Maria played injured until late July, when the tear was detected in an April MRI scan.) There has as yet been no statement on Maria's official website. Maria's WTA ranking has fallen to # 64 while she has been recovering from the injury. Maria currently remains on the French Open entry list, and is on the entry list for the AEGON Classic in Birmingham, England, which was released today.

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.