WTA May 18-24: Warsaw & Strasbourg Warsaw Open, Warsaw, POL PREMIER $600,000 32m/32q/16d outdoor: red clay Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf: draws & OOP - notes pics: Y!: sports - news | tourney - WTA TVP: Tennis Polish, w/ some pics Warsaw: weather radar- forecast Poland News # 16 J Zheng, # 36 S Errani # 25 A Wozniak, # 65 M Sharapova Internationaux de Strasbourg Strasbourg, FRA INTL $220,000 32m/32q/16d outdoor: red clay Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - notes pics: Y!: sports - news | tourney - WTA France news Strasbourg: sat-radar - forecast # 17 A Medina G, # 29 S Bammer # 32 S Peng, # 43 G Dulko

Tourney pages: Warsaw: 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 Strasbourg 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 previous other tourney pages next Warsaw: #209 Alexandra Duhgheru 5'5½" RH 2H-BH Strasbourg: #95 Aravane Rezai 5'5" 137lb RH 2H-BH

    On Saturday in Poland, in the final of the Warsaw Open, 19-year-old qualifier # 209 Alexandra Dulgheru from Bucharest, Roumania, playing in a WTA singles main draw for the first time in her career, won her first WTA final by defeating 24-year-old 8th-seeded # 46 (career high: # 19) Alona Bondarenko from Kharkov, Ukraine, 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-0 (Alexandra is shown after match point).

    The win made Alexandra the fifth player in history to win a WTA singles title while ranked outside the top 200 (the others: Angelique Widjaja, Fabiola Zuluaga, Tamira Paszek and Lindsay Davenport).

    Alexandra and Alona had never played each other before.

    Alexandra's total career prize money prior to this week was $48,836. For the Warsaw Open, Alexandra's prize is $98,500; Alona's is $52,500.

    Alexandra said: "I knew Alona was a very solid player, especially from the baseline. My plan was to play with topspin because when I tried to play with her rhythm she was too powerful. I had to use every drop of energy I had to win." WTA story

    Alona finished second to Justine Henin in the 2007 Warsaw final.

    Alona said: "I hope when I come here next time I'll finally win. I was a little nervous at the beginning of the third set. [Alexandra] got an early lead and played too well. I couldn't do anything. I didn't know how to beat Alexandra today. But I expected her to play well."

    Alexandra is now 1-0 in WTA singles finals; she has won 2 ITF singles titles and 2 ITF doubles titles. Alexandra has a 33-8 match record this year, and has won 16 of her last 17 matches on red clay.
    Alona is now 1-3 in WTA singles finals; she won the Luxembourg title in 2007. Alona has a 17-13 match record in 2009, and has won 7 of her last 9 matches on red clay.

    Meanwhile in Strasbourg, France, in the final of the Internationaux de Strasbourg, 22-year-old # 95 (career high: # 40) Aravane Rezai from St. Etienne, France, won her first WTA singles title by defeating 24-year-old # 82 Lucie Hradecka from Prague, Czech Republic, 7-6(2), 6-1 (Aravane is also shown after match point).
    Aravane is the first French champion in the 23 year history of the tourney. Aravane's prize is $37,000; Lucie's is $19,000.

    Aravane said: "It's incredible. I'm so happy to win my first title in France. I've been working hard for so many years for this and it's hard to put into words what I feel. I want to come back here every year, I love this tournament. This title has given me a lot of confidence but now I'm just going to focus on my first match at Roland Garros." WTA story

    Lucie said: "I was a little bit unlucky in the first set, because it just came down to one or two points. In the second set I made some mistakes and she played really well. I'm still happy about reaching the final this week though."

    Aravane now leads Lucie 2-1 in career matches.
    Aravane is now 1-2 in WTA singles finals; she reached the final in Auckland last year, and the Istanbul final in 2007. She has won 7 ITF singles titles. Aravane has a 22-10 record for the season.
    Lucie is now 0-2 in WTA singles finals; she reached the Bad Gastein final last year. Lucie has won 5 WTA doubles titles, plus 14 ITF singles and 24 ITF doubles titles. Lucie's 2009 match record is 17-10.

Strasbourg Player's Blog by Anabel Medina Garrigues

WTA SCOREBOARD: Warsaw & Strasbourg s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Warsaw Open,  Warsaw, Poland   tourney time:        = GMT +2 hours        = US EDT +6 hours        = US PDT +9 hours Poland News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Warsaw: The 32-player main draw for Warsaw has 8 seeds, with no 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   Legia Sports Club, Warsaw Latitude: 52.220623 Longitude: 21.038389 goto link for World Wind Warsaw Open venue address: Legia Sports Club, Łazienkowska 3, Warsaw, Poland 2009: On Saturday, May 16, in Warsaw, Maria Sharapova practiced in preparation for her first singles match in over nine months, and didn't let a little rain stop her... On Monday, May 18, Daniela Hantuchova (with Agnieszka and Urszula Radwanska, who didn't make it into a good photo) visited a local Habitat for Humanity site and lent a hand...

Warsaw, 1st Rnd, Mon-Tue 11am loser's prize: $4,300 US; points: 1 #16 s3 Jie Zheng CHN d #63 Olga Govortsova BLR 4-6, 7-6(0), 6-3 Mon *#86 Julia Goerges GER d #25 s4 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 7-6(5), 6-3 Mon Julia driving a forehand, and after winning a point #36 s5 Sara Errani ITA d #204 q Greta Arn HUN 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(2) Tue Sara following a forehand #39 s6 wc Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #85 Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 Tue Daniela driving a backhand, and Nuria after launching a forehand, apparently the next "bird" for tourney sponsor Polsat *#57 Anne Keothavong GBR d #44 s7 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA 6-2, 7-6(4) Mon Anne tossing the ball for her serve, and about to connect with a forehand #46 s8 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #436 wc Katarzyna Piter POL 6-0, 6-0 Mon Katarzyna watching her backhand fly, and Alona about to connect with a forehand *#59 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #47 s9 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 7-5, 6-2 Mon *#117 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #61 Melinda Czink HUN 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 Tue #65 wc Maria Sharapova RUS d #71 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-1, 6(6)-7, 6-3 Mon Maria serving, Tathiana's forehand drive, and Maria following a backhand     Maria's previous singles match had been on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, in Montreal. After defeating Marta Domachowska in three sets, Maria withdrew from the tourney due to ongoing pain in her right shoulder.     Maria had an MRI scan in New York on Thursday, July 31, which disclosed two small tendon tears in her shoulder. Shoulder specialist Dr. David Altchek looked at Maria's earlier scans, and found that she had been playing with a torn rotator cuff tendon since April.     By October, it was found that Maria's shoulder was still not healing properly, so she withdrew from the rest of the WTA season, and, on October 15, had arthroscopic surgery in New York.     In March of this year Maria tested her shoulder by playing a doubles match at Indian Wells, California, but found that the arm was still not quite ready.     Playing her first singles match in 9½ months, Maria lead 6-1, 4-0 in the 2nd set, and appeared to be on her way to an easy win, when Tathiana got into the match, averted three 2nd set match points (while Maria served at 5-3), reached a tiebreaker (where Maria failed to convert two more match points), and forced a 3rd set.     Maria trailed 1-3 at the start of the 3rd set, but then won the next 5 games to take the match. AFP story     Maria said: "I should have finished the match in the second set but after nine months it's never easy. I stayed in the match and it worked out in the end...     "My shoulder is fine. It didn't give me any problems during the match...     "I've had a lot of time to think about what I've accomplished and what I still want to do. There are so many more things I want to achieve, more Grand Slams, and for now I have lots of motivation left and am determined to compete. But this week my focus is on this tournament. I'm not thinking about Roland Garros yet, or what will be happening in a week or a month from now. I'm just happy to be back finally. I'm just focusing on playing one match at a time." WTA story *#107 q Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU d #68 Jelena Dokic AUS 6-4, 6-3 Tue Jelena following a backhand, and Iona Raluca driving one *#94 Galina Voskoboeva RUS d #72 Patricia Mayr AUT 6-4, 6-1 Tue *#91 Jill Craybas USA d #81 Edina Gallovits ROU 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 Tue #83 Urszula Radwanska POL d #89 Mariya Koryttseva UKR 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Tue Urszula serving, Mariya driving a backhand, and Urszula fielding a forehand on the run #92 Marta Domachowska POL d #100 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-2, 6-1 Mon Marta twisting a serve, and following a forehand #209 q Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #333 q Agnes Szatmari ROU 6-3, 6-4 Tue *#232 LL Darya Kustova BLR d #221 LL Lenka Tvaroskova SVK 6-4, 6-1 Tue

Warsaw, 2nd Round, Wed 11am losers' prize: $8,000 US; points: 60 *#117 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #16 s3 Jie Zheng CHN 6-0, 6-4 *#209 q Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #36 s5 Sara Errani ITA 6-4, 6-3 #39 s6 wc Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #83 Urszula Radwanska POL 6-3, 6-1 Daniela driving a backhand #46 s8 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #92 Marta Domachowska POL 6-3, 6-1 Marta following a forehand, Alona and Marta driving backhands, and Alona following another backhand #57 Anne Keothavong GBR d #91 Jill Craybas USA 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 *#94 Galina Voskoboeva RUS d #59 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 6-4, 7-6(5) #65 wc Maria Sharapova RUS d #232 LL Darya Kustova BLR 6-2, 6-0 Maria and Darya firing forehands, Maria driving a backhand, and after match point     Maria said: "I was feeling really solid. It was good to get out there in the second match and do the right things, and not make it longer than it should have been." *#107 q Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU d #86 Julia Goerges GER 6-3, 0-6, 7-6(3)

Warsaw, QFs, Thu noon WTA story losers' prize: $15,100 US; points: 120 #39 s6 wc Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #117 Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 Daniela serving to Klara, Kara driving a forehand, Klara serving to Daniela, and Daniela following a backhand #46 s8 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #65 wc Maria Sharapova RUS 6-2, 6-2 Alona and Maria driving forehand and backhand, Alona lining up another forehand, and after match point     Alona said: "Maria played with the same speed and power she had before the injury, the only difference is she made more errors...     "I'm happy with the way I played and the result today. If I continue to play like this I think I can win some matches at the French Open next week. We will see."     Maria said: "I have to give Alona all of the credit she deserves. When she was up, she played really solid and rode it out until the end.     "I felt my shots were too short and I wasn't patient enough. On clay you have to be patient and wait for your opportunities...     "I'm happy with the way I played here though. Obviously no one likes to lose, but I've spent about three or four hours competing on the court this week and that's what I needed. I'm very thankful for the wildcard I got from the tournament." #57 Anne Keothavong GBR d #107 q Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU 6-0, 6-1 Anne and Iona Raluca driving forehand and backhand     Anne said: "I feel like I played very well today. I didn't lose my focus. I think my opponent may have been a little tired too...     "I'm definitely enjoying my stay here in Poland. I have yet to lose a match here." *#209 q Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #94 Galina Voskoboeva RUS 6-1, 7-5

Warsaw, SFs, Fri noon WTA story losers' prize: $28,100 US; points: 200 *#209 q Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #39 s6 wc Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-4, 6(2)-7, 6-1 Daniela about to connect with a forehand, Alexandra contemplating a backhand, Daniela driving one, and Alexandra running down a forehand     Alexandra, who has reached the final while playing in her first ever WTA singles main draw, lost only 13 points in the entire 3rd set.     Alexandra said: "I knew if I could pull through those first few games I had a chance to win. [Daniela] being such a talented and experienced player, I knew if I let her get an early lead it would be incredibly difficult." WTA story     Daniela said: "She definitely did not play like she wasn't Top 200. Today it is all very open and anybody has a chance to beat anybody. Alexandra has had an amazing week and now it is up to her to use this success to her advantage." #46 s8 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #57 Anne Keothavong GBR 6-2, 7-5 Anne's service toss, Alona driving a forehand, Anne fielding a backhand, and Alona driving one     Alona said: "Anne played well from the baseline. She was hitting fast and was consistent...     "I expected to do well here. I felt I played well in Madrid [defeating Sorana Cirstea, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Anna Chakvetadze] last week and thought I could win here in Warsaw. Two years ago here I lost to Justine [Henin] in the final. Tomorrow will be tough. I'm not expecting an easy match."

Warsaw, Final, Sat 11:45am loser's prize: $52,500 US; points: 320 winner's prize: $98,500 US; points: 470 *#209 q Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #46 s8 Alona Bondarenko UKR 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-0 Alexandra driving a forehand, Alona and Alexandra driving backhands, and Alexandra after match point

Warsaw, Doubles Final, Sat losers' prize: $16,500 US winners' prize: $31,000 US *cdr72 s3 Raquel Kops-Jones & Bethanie Mattek d cdr65 s2 Zi Yan & Jie Zheng 6-1, 6-1 Warsaw, Qual Finals, Mon May 18 11am losers' prizes: q1 $660 1pt; q2 $1,230 8pts; q3 $2,300 12pts; qualifier 20 points #107 Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU d #290 Nika Ozegovic CRO 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 Iona Raluca driving a backhand #204 Greta Arn HUN d #232 Darya Kustova BLR 6-2, 6-3 #209 Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #NR Alicja Rosolska POL 6-1, 6-0 *#333 Agnes Szatmari ROU d #221 Lenka Tvaroskova SVK 6-2, 6-0 Warsaw, Withdrawals #11 s1 Caroline Wozniacki DEN low back strain #12 s2 Agnieszka Radwanska POL low back sprain #37 Sabine Lisicki GER appendicitis #42 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez ESP left shoulder injury #54 Shahar Peer ISR right foot injury #58 Nicole Vaidisova CZE illness #74 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE right hip injury #88 Severine Bremond FRA left hip injury

Internationaux de Strasbourg,  Strasbourg, France   tourney time:        = GMT +2 hours        = US EDT +6 hours        = US PDT +9 hours France News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Strasbourg: The 32-player main draw for Strasbourg has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes. There are 4 qualifiers and 3 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Monday.   click for broader view   Centre Sportif de Hautepierre Latitude: 48.599033 Longitude: 7.691063 goto link for World Wind Internationaux de Strasbourg venue address: Centre Sportif de Hautepierre, Rue Baden Powell, F-67200, Strasbourg, France 2009: On Sunday, May 17, in Strasbourg, Mathilde Johansson arrived a boat ride to the Musée d'Art Contemporain for the main draw ceremony... also on the boat and attending the draw were former French # 1 Tatiana Golovin (unable to play since last year) and her sister Oxana (in pink)... On Tuesday, May 19, Aravane Rezai and Gisela Dulko did the autograph thing... At the player party on Tuesday, Anabel Medina Garrigues and Pauline Parmentier were amused by parlor tricks, while Mara Santangelo, Nathalie Dechy, and Stephanie Foretz, avoiding such tomfoolery, headed straight for the grub...

Strasbourg, 1st Round, Mon 10am-Tue 11am loser's prize: $1,725 US; points: 1 #17 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #64 Yanina Wickmayer BEL 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 Tue Yanina serving, and Anabel driving a backhand     Anabel said: "It was a tough match today! I didn't play that well in the first set and Yanina was playing some really good shots—she came out with a lot of power. I was a little bit scared! I couldn't really do anything. But I focused more on the second set, playing with more spin and hitting deeper like Spanish players, like I talked about yesterday, and I kept her at the baseline more. I tried to avoid hitting any short shots. It worked. I also think she was also a little bit tired from last week." Strasbourg player's blog by Anabel Medina Garrigues *#95 Aravane Rezai FRA d #29 s2 Sybille Bammer AUT 6-2, 6-2 Mon Aravane serving to Sybille #32 s3 Shuai Peng CHN d #119 Alexa Glatch USA 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 Mon #43 s4 Gisela Dulko ARG d #108 sr35 Mara Santangelo ITA 6-1, 7-6(3) Mon Gisela reaching for a backhand, and after winning a point *#116 q Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR d #48 s5 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-3, 6-0 Tue *#69 Julie Coin FRA d #52 s6 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-4, 6-2 Tue *#56 q Monica Niculescu ROU d #53 s7 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 Tue *#75 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS d #62 s8 Nathalie Dechy FRA 6-0, 6(5)-7, 6-3 Tue *#128 Stephanie Cohen-Aloro FRA d #66 Mathilde Johansson FRA 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 Tue #70 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR d #132 Maret Ani EST 6-3, 7-5 Tue #76 Ayumi Morita JPN d #315 wc Kinnie Laisne FRA 6-1, 6-3 Mon #77 Kristina Barrois GER d #257 wc Irena Pavlovic FRA 6-3, 6-3 Mon #79 Pauline Parmentier FRA d #113 Varvara Lepchenko USA 7-6(5), 7-6(2) Tue Pauline tossing the ball for her serve #82 Lucie Hradecka CZE d #NR q Jasmin Woehr GER 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 Tue *#102 Stephanie Foretz FRA d #101 Kirsten Flipkens BEL 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 Tue *#248 q Yuliya Beygelzimer UKR d #241 wc Claire Feuerstein FRA 0-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 Tue

Strasbourg, 2nd Round, Wed 10am loser's prize: $2,950 US; points: 30 *#77 Kristina Barrois GER d #17 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-4 retired—low back injury     Anabel said: "It was a disappointing day today. I was playing a point and hurt my back, and I had to retire from the match. I've had this problem before—twice last year. It's painful and makes your back very stiff. The good news is it usually takes three or four days of treatment and it heals, so I will be fine for Roland Garros. I'll have treatment on it until the day I play my first match there, of course." Strasbourg player's blog by Anabel Medina Garrigues #32 s3 Shuai Peng CHN d #79 Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-3, 7-6(6) *#128 Stephanie Cohen-Aloro FRA d #43 s4 Gisela Dulko ARG 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 #56 q Monica Niculescu ROU d #248 q Yuliya Beygelzimer UKR 5-7, 6-0, 6-4 *#76 Ayumi Morita JPN d #69 Julie Coin FRA 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 Julie about to swat a forehand, and Ayumi following one *#95 Aravane Rezai FRA d #70 Anastasiya Yakimova BLR 6-4, 6-1 Aravane's forehand drive *#82 Lucie Hradecka CZE d #75 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 7-5, 6-0 *#116 q Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR d #102 Stephanie Foretz FRA 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

Strasbourg, QFs, Thu 11am loser's prize: $5,340 US; points: 70 *#76 Ayumi Morita JPN d #32 s3 Shuai Peng CHN 7-5, 6-2 *#95 Aravane Rezai FRA d #56 q Monica Niculescu ROU 0-6, 6-1, 6-2 *#82 Lucie Hradecka CZE d #77 Kristina Barrois GER 6-3, 7-6(2) #116 q Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR d #128 Stephanie Cohen-Aloro FRA 7-5, 6-1

Strasbourg, SFs, Fri 2pm loser's prize: $10,200 US; points: 130 *#82 Lucie Hradecka CZE d #76 Ayumi Morita JPN 6-0, 1-0 retired—left thigh strain Ayumi serving, and Lucie fielding a forehand on the run #95 Aravane Rezai FRA d #116 q Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR 6-4, 6-2 Viktoriya serving, Aravane about to swat a backhand, Viktoriya driving one, and Aravane following another

Strasbourg, Final, Sat 2pm after doubles loser's prize: $19,000 US; points: 200 winner's prize: $37,000 US; points: 280 #95 Aravane Rezai FRA d #82 Lucie Hradecka CZE 7-6(2), 6-1 Aravane serving, Lucie and Aravane driving backhands, and Aravane after match point

Strasbourg, Doubles Final, Sat 11:30am loser's prize: $5,750 US winner's prize: $11,000 US cdr69 s2 Nathalie Dechy & Mara Santangelo d cdr813 Claire Feuerstein & Stephanie Foretz 6-0, 6-1 Strasbourg, Qual Finals, Mon May 18 10am losers' prizes: q1 $265 1pt; q2 $460 6pts; q3 $860 10pts; qualifier 16 points #56 Monica Niculescu ROU d #296 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 #116 Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR d #125 Anastasija Sevastova LAT 7-5, 1-6, 6-0 *#248 Yuliya Beygelzimer UKR d #220 Nathalie Vierin ITA 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 *#NR Jasmin Woehr GER d #481 Astrid Besser ITA 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3 Strasbourg, Withdrawals #24 Katarina Srebotnik SLO left achilles injury #28 Na Li CHN right knee injury #84 Yung-Jan Chan TPE left foot injury #90 Sania Mirza IND #97 Timea Bacsinszky SUI left leg injury #98 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP knee injury

    (May 18, 2009) Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark has withdrawn from the Warsaw Open due to an ongoing low back strain. On Monday, meeting the press in Warsaw, Caroline said: "I really wanted to play here in Warsaw. I know I have a lot of Polish fans (Caroline's parents are both Polish; her father played pro soccer for a Danish team) but I have had this back injury for two weeks. The physiotherapist told me that if I want to be able to accomplish anything at the French Open I have to take a break so that my condition does not get any worse." tourney story

    (May 17, 2009) 2nd-seeded # 12 Agnieszka Radwanska has withdrawn from the Warsaw Open due to a low back sprain she incurred in Madrid.

    (May 11, 2009) Former WTA # 1 Maria Sharapova has entered next week's Warsaw Open as a wild card. Maria has been sidelined by a torn right shoulder rotator cuff tendon since late July of last year (the injury actually occurred in March, but was not detected until July).

    Maria said: "I am very happy to report that I will make my singles return to the tour in Warsaw, Poland, the week of May 18. Although it has not been an easy process these last few months, I really believe it's made me a much stronger person in so many areas of my life professionally and personally. There are so many things you learn while you are limited to something you love doing. One of those things is patience, not my best virtue, but certainly one of my better ones now." mariasharapova.com

    (Apr 3, 2009) The Warsaw Open venue has been changed from the Warszawianka Sports Club, where the previous J&S Cup was held, to the Legia Sports Club. story - English via Google

    (Mar 16-26, 2009) The WTA Warsaw Open reportedly has found sufficient financing, according to a Polish member of Tennis Forum. Earlier Polish press reports (English via Google) had stated that as of early March the Warsaw Open (May 18-24) had raised only 1/3 of the $1.5 million that they need in sponsor money, and that the rest must be found by the end of March.
    Now the Polish TV channel Polsat has reportedly bought the rights to broadcast the tourney, and is contributing 85% of the necessary sponsorship funds.
    The Warsaw Open, not on the calendar in 2008, was originally scheduled as a $220,000 International tourney this year, but was promoted to a $600,000 Premier tourney after the demise of the Berlin German Open, also due to lack of sponsor funds.

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.