WTA June 7-13: Birmingham AEGON Classic Birmingham, GBR INTL $220,000 56m/32q/16d outdoor: grass Free Live Video: 1 - 2 - 3 | BBC audio Live Scores - in popup window draws: WTA: Q - main - D - OOP pics: DL - Y!: sports     news BC - news ED | WTA Birmingham: radar - forecast #12 Na Li #13 Maria Sharapova #16 Yanina Wickmayer #19 Aravane Rezai #33 Sara Errani #36 Yaroslava Shevdova #38 Olga Govortsova #41 Andrea Petkovic #48 Aleksandra Wozniak #51 Magdalena Rybarikova #58 Melinda Czink #62 Elena Baltacha #64 Angelique Kerber

Tourney pages: Birmingham: 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 previous other tourney pages next Birmingham: #13 Maria Sharapova 6' 2" 130lb RH 2H-BH Birmingham: #12 Na Li 5'7¾" 137lb RH 2H-BH

    On Sunday in Birmingham, England, in the final of the AEGON Classic, last year's tourney finalist, 28-year-old top-seeded #12 Na Li from Wuhan, Hubei, China, defeated the 2004 and 2005 tourney champion (and this year's champ in Strasbourg and Memphis), 23-year-old 2nd-seeded #13 (and former #1) Maria Sharapova of Russia (residences: Manhattan Beach, California & Bradenton, Florida), 7-5, 6-1 (Maria is shown during the match, and Na holding the Maude Watson Trophy afterward).

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

    Na said: "Last year I beat Maria in the semifinals, and then was so excited I forgot I had another match. I'm excited again. If I had another match this time, I think I would probably lose that, too... I won because I hit the ball flatter today, and it makes it easier to win points on grass." tourney story - AP story

    Maria, who had served well in her previous matches this year at Birmingham, hit seven double faults with only once ace (Na: 3 aces, 0 DFs). Na coverted 4 of 10 break point opportunities against Maria; Maria reached break point against Na only once, though she did score on that occasion.

    Maria said: "I would have loved to win but [Na] was the better player today and she did many things better than me. She returned great. I put her under no pressure whatsoever on her serve.
    "Even though the first set was close, I was in trouble from early on and I gave her too many looks at second serves. I had my opportunities—a few points here and there could have made a difference.
    "The goal was to get as many matches as I did; I’ve played opponents with different types of game. It’s always nice to win a tournament but it doesn’t always happen."

    Maria still leads Na 5-2 in career matches, but Na's wins over Maria came the last two times they have played, both on grass courts. In their previous match, last year in the semifinals in Birmingham, when Na defeated Maria 6-4, 6-4.

    Na is now 3-4 in WTA singles finals; she won her other titles at Gold Coast in 2008 and at Guangzhou in 2004. Na is 25-11 in matches this year.

    2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open, and 2008 Australian Open champion Maria is now 22-9 in WTA singles finals, her most recent tourney win coming in Strasbourg 3 weeks ago. Due to right shoulder rotator cuff tendon tears, she played only one match (a doubles match) between August, 2008, and May, 2009. She took steps to avoid further shoulder injuries, but incurred a right elbow bone bruise at Indian Wells in March this year, and that kept her sidelined until May. Maria has an 17-5 match record this season.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Birmingham s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? AEGON 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 2010: On Sunday, June 6, at Birmingham, 2004 and 2005 tourney champion (and 2007 finalist) Maria Sharapova finished a mural that she had helped to create at Cotteridge Park... On Tuesday, doubles specialist Ipek Senoglu was presented with this enormous cake for her 31st birthday...

Birmingham, 1st Round, Mon-Tue 11am loser's prize: $700 US; points: 1 Tuesday: rain delayed start to after 3pm, only 3 matches completed #48 s9 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN d #94 Alicia Molik AUS 7-5, 6-1 Tue Aleksandra serving #51 s10 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #70 Regina Kulikova RUS 5-7, 3-2 retired—low back injury Mon *#627 sr Marina Erakovic NZL d #58 s11 Melinda Czink HUN 7-5, 6-4 Mon *#118 q Kaia Kanepi EST d #62 s12 Elena Baltacha GBR 6-1, retired—gastrointestinal illness ppd-Wed Kaia and Elena driving forehand and backhand #64 s13 Angelique Kerber GER d #179 q Misaki Doi JPN 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 Mon #66 s14 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA d #129 Lilia Osterloh USA 6-2, 6-2 Mon *#103 Karolina Sprem CRO d #67 s15 Kristina Barrois GER 5-7, 7-6(5), 7-6(4) Tue-rain-Wed #69 s16 Vania King USA d #71 Kirsten Flipkens BEL 6-4, 6-0 Tue Kirsten driving a backhand, and Vania following a forehand *#124 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA d #75 Alberta Brianti ITA 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 Mon *#262 q Laura Robson GBR d #76 Stefanie Voegele SUI 6-4, 0-1 retired—low back injury Mon Laura following a forehand #78 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS d #346 wc Heather Watson GBR 6-4, 6-3 Mon Heather following a forehand—no photos of Alla were found *#197 q Alison Riske USA d #80 Sandra Zahlavova CZE 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-0 Mon *#91 Sania Mirza IND d #83 Yung-Jan Chan TPE 6-1, 6-4 Mon *#107 Jarmila Groth AUS d #84 Julie Coin FRA 7-6(4), 2-6, 6-3 Mon #99 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #89 Kai-Chen Chang TPE 6-3. 6-3 Mon #92 Anastasia Rodionova AUS d #130 q Michaella Krajicek NED 6-3, 6-3 Mon *#154 Anne Keothavong GBR d #95 Pauline Parmentier FRA 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 ppd-Wed Anne's service toss, Pauline following a forehand, Anne driving one, and after winning a point *#206 q Mirjana Lucic CRO d #97 Mariana Duque Marino COL 6-1, 6-2 Mon #100 Ayumi Morita JPN d #109 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 Tue Maria Elena driving a forehand, and Ayumi watching her serve fly #101 Jill Craybas USA d #142 LL Sophie Ferguson AUS 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3) Tue-rain-Wed #111 Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #175 q Ekaterina Dzehalevich BLR 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 Mon #112 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #212 wc Melanie South GBR 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Mon Anna serving, and Melanie driving a backhand *#134 q Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ d #123 Katie O'Brien GBR 6-3, 6-4 Mon Katie driving a forehand—no photos of Sesil were found #128 Shenay Perry USA d #281 wc Naomi Broady GBR 6-4, 6-4 Mon

Birmingham, 2nd Round, Tue-Wed 11am loser's prize: $1,350 US; points: 15 Wednesday: rain stopped play after 10 matches completed #12 s1 wc Na Li CHN d #154 Anne Keothavong GBR 6-2, 6-4 ppd-Thu Na and Anne driving forehands #13 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #124 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA 6-0, 6-3 ppd-Wed-rain-Thu Maria following a backhand #16 s3 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #262 q Laura Robson GBR 7-5, 6-4 ppd-Thu Yanina and Laura driving backhand and forehand #19 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA d #92 Anastasia Rodionova AUS 6-3, 6-4 ppd-Wed-rain-Thu #33 s5 Sara Errani ITA d #128 Shenay Perry USA 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Wed *#134 q Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ d #36 s6 Yaroslava Shevdova KAZ 6-4, 6-4 Wed *#111 Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #38 s7 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 ppd-Wed-rain-Thu *#112 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #41 s8 Andrea Petkovic GER 6-4, 6-4 ppd-Wed *#197 q Alison Riske USA d #48 s9 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 6-2, 6-4 Wed-rain-Thu #51 s10 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #99 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5) Wed Magda following a forehand, and Ekaterina about to connect with one #64 s13 Angelique Kerber GER d #100 Ayumi Morita JPN 6-1, 7-6(7) Wed Ayumi following a backhand, and Angelique's forehand drive #66 s14 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA d #91 Sania Mirza IND 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 Wed-rain-Thu Sania driving a backhand (no photos of Tammy were found) *#78 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS d #69 s16 Vania King USA 6-1, 6-2 Wed *#627 sr Marina Erakovic NZL d #101 Jill Craybas USA 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 ppd-Thu *#206 q Mirjana Lucic CRO d #103 Karolina Sprem CRO 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(3) ppd-Thu *#118 q Kaia Kanepi EST d #107 Jarmila Groth AUS 7-6(5), 7-5 ppd-Thu

Birmingham, 3rd Round, Thu 11am loser's prize: $2,600 US; points: 30 #12 s1 wc Na Li CHN d #64 s13 Angelique Kerber GER 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 Thu-dark-Fri #13 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #78 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 6-3, 6-1 Maria and Alla following backhands, and Maria after match point     It was the two players' first meeting since Alla defeated Maria in the 2nd round at Wimbledon in 2008, 6-2, 6-4. Maria, who had completed a rain-suspended 2nd round match against Bethanie Mattek-Sands earlier in the day, served very well, putting 71% of her 1st serves in the box, and firing 11 aces with only 2 double faults. #16 s3 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #66 s14 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-4, 6-4 #19 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA d #206 q Mirjana Lucic CRO 7-5, 6-3 #33 s5 Sara Errani ITA d #627 sr Marina Erakovic NZL 7-6(5), 6-4 Thu-dark-Fri c3 m2 *#134 q Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ d #51 s10 M Rybarikova SVK 6-2, 6(3)-7, 6-2 *#118 q Kaia Kanepi EST d #111 M Larcher de Brito POR 6-2, 6-2 Thu-dark-Fri *#197 q Alison Riske USA d #112 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 4-6, 7-5, 6-1     Alison is playing in a WTA main draw for only the second time in her career. Last summer, after graduating from high school, Alison was ready to attend Vanderbilt University, but changed her mind and decided to turn pro (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette story). Her results had been rather iffy up to this point, but this week she has done quite well indeed.

Birmingham, QFs, Fri 11am loser's prize: $5,000 US; points: 70 #12 s1 wc Na Li CHN d #118 q Kaia Kanepi EST 6-4, 6-2 Na and Kaia driving backhands #13 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #134 q Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ 6-2, 6-4 Maria driving a forehand, and Sesil and Maria driving backhands *#197 q Alison Riske USA d #16 s3 Yanina Wickmayer BEL 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-3 Alison serving, Yanina ready to swat a forehand, and Alison's backhand drive     Alison said: "I like the grass. You have to believe you can win. Even when I lost the first set, I felt everything could still go my way. Wickmayer was the highest-ranked opponent I had ever faced so I'm excited to get through." WTA story #19 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA d #33 s5 Sara Errani ITA 7-6(2), 7-5 Aravane and Sara driving forehand and backhand

Birmingham, SFs, Sat noon WTA story loser's prize: $10,000 US; points: 130 #12 s1 wc Na Li CHN d #19 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 Aravane and Na driving forehands, and Na after match point     Na said: "[Aravane is] a tough player, she was hitting very hard. I started aggressively and then went a little bit backward, lost a bit of concentration at 2-0 in second set. Then in the third set, I realized I had to play like I had at the start to win." #13 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #197 q Alison Riske USA 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 Maria serving, Alison running down a forehand, Maria about to swat one, and after match point     Maria said: "[Alison's] game suits the grass courts and she's been playing some really good tennis this week. I let her back into the match [in the 2nd set] and credit to her—she did a great job of executing that set, stayed with her game plan and kept attacking. I definitely had to change things around in the third set and step it up a bit."

Birmingham, Final, Sun 1pm loser's prize: $19,000 US; points: 200 winner's prize: $37,000 US; points: 280 #12 s1 wc Na Li CHN d #13 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS 7-5, 6-1 Na driving a forehand, Maria and Na driving backhands, and Na after match point

Birmingham, Doubles Final, Sun after singles loser's prize: $5,800 winner's prize: $11,000 *cdr29 s2 Cara Black & Lisa Raymond d cdr21 s1 Liezel Huber & Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-3, 3-2 retired—left knee injury Birmingham, Qualifying Finals, Sun Jun 6 losers' prizes: q1 $190 1pt; q2 $360 6 pts; qualifier 10 points #118 Kaia Kanepi EST d #142 Sophie Ferguson AUS 6-2, 6-4 #130 Michaella Krajicek NED d #155 Rebecca Marino CAN 6-3, 6-4 #134 Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ d #177 Naomi Cavaday GBR 6-4, 6(2)-7, 7-6(4) *#262 Laura Robson GBR d #169 Vitalia Diatchenko RUS 6-3, 4-0 retired—right ankle injury *#175 Ekaterina Dzehalevich BLR d #170 Nikola Hofmanova AUT 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-1 #179 Misaki Doi JPN d #270 Anna Smith GBR 7-5, 6-1 *#197 Alison Riske USA d #180 Ajla Tomljanovic CRO 6-4, 6(3)-7, 6-4 *#206 Mirjana Lucic CRO d #189 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-2, 6-2 Birmingham, Withdrawals #17 Francesca Schiavone ITA French Open champ #27 Dominika Cibulkova SVK #46 Virginie Razzano FRA right foot & ankle injury #50 Shuai Peng CHN illness #59 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP adductor strain #60 Roberta Vinci ITA #63 Petra Kvitova CZE left ankle injury #72 Kimiko Date Krumm JPN right calf strain #81 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL #82 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER left foot injury #86 Renata Voracova CZE #87 Lucie Hradecka CZE left wrist injury #104 Mariya Koryttseva UKR #115 Jelena Dokic AUS #204 sr Casey Dellacqua AUS right foot injury

    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) - 2010 WTA Schedule with links & photos

Link to many postmatch interview & match highlight videos of WTA players at the 2009 WTA Player Videos page.

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