WTA May 3-8: Rome & Estoril Internazionali d' Italia Alice Cup Rome, ITA  PREMIER 5 $2,000,000 56m/32q/28d outdoor: red clay Free Live Video: 1 - 2 - 3 Live Scores - in popup window draws: WTA: Q - main - D - OOP tourney: draw, .pdf - OOP & results pics: DL - Y!: sports - news | WTA Rome: weather - map Rome News - Italy News #1 S Williams #2 C Wozniacki #3 D Safina, #4 V Williams Estoril Open, Estoril, POR +ATP INTL $220,000 32m/32q/16d outdoor: red clay Free Live Video: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 Live Scores - in popup window draws: WTA: Q - main - D - OOP results - order of play - draw pics: Y!: DL - sports - news | WTA Estoril: weather radar - forecast #33 A Szavay, #39 S Cirstea #46 A Wozniak, #48 A Medina G

Tourney pages: Rome: 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 Rome & Estoril: 2009   Estoril: 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 previous other tourney pages next Rome: #27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez 5'9¼" 150lb LH 2H-BH Estoril: #64 Anastasija Sevastova 5'7" 154lb RH 2H-BH

On Saturday in Rome, in the final of the Internazionali d' Italia Alice Cup (aka the Italian Open), last year's champ in Bogota and Båstad, 27-year-old #27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez from Barcelona, Spain, defeated the 2007 & 2008 Rome champion, 25-year-old 7th-seeded #7 (and former #1) Jelena Jankovic from Belgrade, Serbia, 7-6(5), 7-5 (Maria José is shown holding the Alice Cup after the match).     Maria José's prize is $350,000; Jelena's is $175,000.     It was by far the best week of Maria José's career. She defeated #17 Francesca Schiavone, #2 Caroline Wozniacki, and Jelena's compatriot, the 2008 French Open champion and former #1, Ana Ivanovic on her way to the final.     Jelena defeated the 1999 Rome champ, #4 Venus Williams, and the 2002 Rome champ, #1 Serena Williams, to reach the final.     Jelena said: "I want to congratulate Maria, she played a great match and she really killed me with all those drop shots. It was pretty tough. She plays very differently to most girls, hitting a lot of drop shots, she serve-volleys and she's left-handed. It's a little bit tricky." AFP story     Maria José said: "I have a different game, it's not typical. That's the idea of my game, do lots of different things. Maybe it's because I used to watch Martina Navratilova on TV when I was seven, eight. When I was little I always shoved the ball and went to the net." Reuters story     Maria José and Jelena had played twice before. Jelena retired from their first meeting, a qualifying match in Miami in 2001.     Their most recent match was last year, on red clay, in Fed Cup play, when Jelena defeated Maria, 6-3, 6-4.

    Maria José, an excellent doubles player who has won 13 WTA (and 22 ITF) doubles titles, is now 3-1 in WTA singles finals; in 2009 she defeated Gisela Dulko to win the Bogota title, then defeated Caroline Wozniacki to become Båstad champion. She reached the Barcelona final in 2008. Maria José never finished a year ranked in the WTA top 90 until last year, when, at age 27, she ended the season at #30. Her six wins this week give Maria José a 16-8 singles match record this season.

    2008 US Open finalist Jelena is now 12-12 in WTA singles finals; she won at Indian Wells this year, at Cincinnati and Marbella last year, and at Rome, Beijing, Stuttgart, and Moscow in 2008. She ended 2008 ranked # 1 in the WTA. Jelena has a 22-9 singles match record in 2010.

    Maria José also reached the Rome doubles final, where last week's champs in Stuttgart, Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta, defeated Maria and her partner Nuria Llagostera Vives, 6-4, 6-2.

    In the rain-delayed Estoril final on Saturday, 19-year-old #64 (career-high: #61) Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia (residence: Vienna, Austria), won her first WTA title by defeating 27-year-old #82 (career-high: #52) Arantxa Parra Santonja from Barcelona, Spain, 6-2, 7-5 (Anastasija is shown with the glassware after the match).

    Anastasija's prize is $37,000; Arantxa's is $19,000. WTA story

    Both Anastasija and Arantxa were playing in their first WTA singles final. They had never before met on the field of combat.
    Anastasija has won 7 ITF singles titles, and 1 ITF doubles title. She has a 17-9 singles match record in 2010.
    Arantxa has won 3 WTA doubles titles, 10 ITF singles titles, and 8 ITF doubles titles. Arantxa has a 14-12 singles match record this year.

Estoril player's blog by Shuai Peng

WTA SCOREBOARD: Rome s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Italian Open,  Rome, Italy   tourney time:        = GMT +2 hours        = US EDT +6 hours        = US PDT +9 hours Italy News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar Rome: The 56-player main draw for Rome has 16 seeds, with 8 1st-round byes. There are 8 qualifiers and 5 wild cards in the main draw.     Qualifying finals are on Saturday.   click for broader view   Tennis stadia at Foro Italico, Viale delle Olimpiadi Latitude: 41.929318 Longitude: 12.457477 goto link for World Wind 2010: Players alerting the media at the Foro Italico on Sunday and Monday included Serena Willliams, Caroline Wozniacki, Venus Williams, 2007 & '08 tourney champ Jelena Jankovic, row 2: Italian #1 Flavia Pennetta, and 2009 Rome champ Dinara Safina... Tathiana Garbin played beach tennis on Monday, while Caroline Wozniacki visited the Rolex booth...

Rome, 1st Rnd, Sun-Mon 1pm loser's prize: $5,400 US; points: 1 Sunday: rain stopped play, play resumed #9 s9 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #142 q Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ 6-1, 6-4 Sun #12 s11 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #108 q Karolina Sprem CRO 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 Mon #15 s12 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #102 q Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-2, 6-3 Mon Flavia after match point #17 s13 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #23 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 Mon Daniela eyeing a backhand, and Francesca driving one #18 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS d #55 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-3, 6-2 Sun *#60 Petra Kvitova CZE d #19 s15 Vera Zvonareva RUS 6-4, 6-0 Sun #20 s16 Shahar Peer ISR d #182 wc Corinna Dentoni ITA 6-2, 6-1 Mon Corinna and Shahar driving backhands #21 Aravane Rezai FRA d #81 q Ayumi Morita JPN 6-4, 6-2 ppd-Mon *#98 wc Maria Elena Camerin ITA d #22 Jie Zheng CHN 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Sun Maria Elena following a forehand *#58 Roberta Vinci ITA d #26 Alisa Kleybanova RUS 7-6(6), 7-6(5) Mon Roberta moving netward #27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez ESP d #78 Alla Kudryavtseva RUS 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 Sun #28 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #95 LL Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-1, 3-6, 7-5 Mon *#57 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #32 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-1, 6-3 Mon Ana serving, and Elena and Ana driving backhands *#77 Alberta Brianti ITA d #29 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 6-4, 7-6(5) Sun *#128 q Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA d #31 Melanie Oudin USA 6-1, 6-3 Mon *#47 Patty Schnyder SUI d #34 Gisela Dulko ARG 6(5)-7, 6-2, 7-6(5) Mon #35 Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ d #117 q Bojana Jovanovski SRB 6-2, 6-2 Mon *#45 Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #36 Sara Errani ITA 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 Mon Sara about to swat a backhand, and Alexandra driving one #37 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #156 wc Romina Oprandi ITA 6-1, 6-3 Sun #38 Lucie Safarova SVK d #43 Olga Govortsova BLR 6-2, 6(9)-7, 6-3 Mon *#50 Andrea Petkovic GER d #44 Vera Dushevina RUS 6-3, 6-0 Sun #49 Timea Bacsinszky SUI d #87 Sandra Zahlavova CZE 6-0, 6-4 ppd-Mon #52 Polona Hercog SLO d #241 q Greta Arn HUN 6-3, 6-3 Sun *#385 sr20 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #109 q Varvara Lepchenko USA 6(2)-7, 7-5, 6-3 Mon

Rome, 2nd Round, Mon-Tue 1pm losers' prize: $10,275 US; points: 70 #1 s1 wc Serena Williams USA d #49 Timea Bacsinszky SUI 7-6(2), 6-1 Tue Timea and Serena driving forehand and backhand     Serena said: "I went in there thinking 'I can win or I can lose.' You never know what can happen and I didn't put too much pressure on myself. I got off to a little bit of a slow start, but it was good and I was able to fight it off." AP story #2 s2 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #98 wc Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-1, 6-0 Tue Caroline serving, Maria Elena running down a forehand, and Caro following one *#45 Alexandra Dulgheru ROU d #3 s3 Dinara Safina RUS 6-4, 6(5)-7, 6-1 Tue Alexandra's service toss, and Dinara and Alexandra driving backhands     This was only Dinara's 2nd tourney since she retired from her 4th round match at the Australian Open due to a low back injury that had troubled since last year.     Dinara said: "I think the only good thing about this match was that my back didn't create any problems." #4 s4 Venus Williams USA d #47 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-2, 6-2 Tue Patty driving a backhand, and Venus volleying one     Strange schedule: Patty Schnyder defeated Gisela Dulko in a 2 hour, 37 minute match that ended after 11pm on Monday night. Venus had a 1st-round bye. Knowing that the winner of that match would play Venus Williams the next day, that match should have been scheduled earlier on Monday, or this 2nd round match should have been scheduled later (it was the 2nd match of the day), or both. Either the Italian Open organizers wanted to give Venus some help, or they weren't paying attention to what they were doing. *#37 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #5 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Mon Svetlana and Maria driving backhands, and Maria after match point #6 s6 Elena Dementieva RUS d #35 Yaroslava Shvedova KAZ 6-4, 7-5 Tue Elena launching a forehand #7 s7 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #128 q Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 Tue Jelena following a running forehand #8 s8 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d #58 Roberta Vinci ITA 6-1, 6-0 Tue *#57 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #9 s9 Victoria Azarenka BLR 6-4, 6-4 Tue Ana and Vika driving forehand and backhand     It was Ana's biggest win (by rank) since she defeated then #9 Vera Zvonareva to win the Linz final in October, 2008. #12 s11 Yanina Wickmayer BEL d #21 Aravane Rezai FRA 6-3, 6(2)-7, 7-5 Tue *#38 Lucie Safarova SVK d #15 s12 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6-1, 6-2 Tue Flavia and Lucie driving forehand and backhand *#27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez ESP d #17 s13 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-2, 6-2 Tue #18 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS d #385 sr20 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 6-4, 6-4 Tue #20 s16 Shahar Peer ISR d #52 Polona Hercog SLO 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 Tue Shahar driving a backhand #28 Dominika Cibulkova SVK d #77 Alberta Brianti ITA 6-3, 6-4 Tue #50 Andrea Petkovic GER d #60 Petra Kvitova CZE 6-3, 6-4 Tue

Rome, 3rd Round, Wed 1pm losers' prize: $20,000 US; points: 125 #1 s1 wc Serena Williams USA d #50 Andrea Petkovic GER 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 Serena serving, Andrea driving a backhand, and Serena about to lightly tap a forehand     Serena said: "I definitely felt extremely rusty today. I'm glad I was able to win because at least I can be guaranteed another match. I think I definitely need it." AP story #27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez ESP d #2 s2 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-4, 6-2 Maria José driving a forehand #4 s4 Venus Williams USA d #20 s16 Shahar Peer ISR 6-3, 6-4 Venus and Shahar driving forehand and backhand *#57 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #6 s6 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-1, 7-6(5) Elena drivng a forehand, Ana running one down, and after winning a point     Ana has now defeated Elena Vesnina, Victoria Azarenka, and Elena Dementieva all in straight sets, making this clearly her best week since 2008. #7 s7 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #12 s11 Yanina Wickmayer BEL 6-2, 6-0 Yanina's service toss, Jelena following a backhand, and after match point     Yanina reached only one break point against Jelena, and failed to convert it. Jelena said: "I played very well today. This is the first time I played against Wickmayer, so I didn’t know her game. I really played my tennis, and I had the answers for all of her shots. I was always on the ball and I tried to be aggressive and to open the court and finish well. I served very well and I'm very happy with the way I played. I think she is a good player and she has had great results, and so to win like this is great." tourney story *#38 Lucie Safarova SVK d #8 s8 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) Lucie driving a backhand, and Agnieszka fielding one #18 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS d #45 Alexandra Dulgheru ROU 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 Nadia driving a backhand *#37 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #28 Dominika Cibulkova SVK 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 Maria's backhand drive

Rome, QFs, Thu 1pm losers' prize: $40,000 US; points: 225 #1 s1 wc Serena Williams USA d #37 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-1, 6-4 Serena serving, Maria driving a backhand, Maria serving, and Serena's backhand drive     It was Serena's third match since she defeated Justine Henin in the Australian Open final, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. She had withdrawn from every tourney since January due to a persistent left knee injury.     Serena said: "My knee is feeling good so far. I can't believe I'm still in the tournament—it's weird... Hopefully as I start playing more, I'll start to close these games out better." AP story *#7 s7 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #4 s4 Venus Williams USA 6-0, 6-1 Jelena following a forehand, Venus and Jelena driving backhands, and Jelena after match point     Jelena struck only one unforced error in the 1st set; Venus had eleven. The win raised Jelena's career record against Venus to 6-5.     Jelena said: "I had so many tough matches against Venus. It's great to win—6-0, 6-1 is really unbelievable." *#57 Ana Ivanovic SRB d #18 s14 Nadia Petrova RUS 6-2, 7-5 Ana serving, Nadia driving a backhand, Ana following one, and after match point     This tourney has been Ana's best in over a year. She defeated Victoria Azarenka, Lucie Safarova, and Elena Dementieva in the first three rounds, all in straight sets.     Ana credits her renewed success to coach Heinz Gunthardt, former coach of Steffi Graf. Ana said: "We've worked a lot the last few weeks and I feel great out there. I've been working a lot on the serve, and I'm getting a lot of free points. My serve has been a big issue the last year and a half, and having confidence in it now puts less pressure on the other parts of my game." AP story #27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez ESP d #38 Lucie Safarova SVK 7-6(6), 6-4 Maria José eyeing a backhand, and Lucie about to connect with a forehand

Rome, SFs, Fri 4pm loser's prize: $87,500 US; points: 395 *#7 s7 Jelena Jankovic SRB d #1 s1 wc Serena Williams USA 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) Jelena driving a forehand, Serena and Jelena driving backhands, and Jelena after match point     Jelena said: "I fought very hard. I just tried to stay out there as much as I could... Beating two Williams sisters in two days is amazing." Reuters story     Serena held a match point while leading 5-4 in the 3rd set, but failed to convert it. Serena said: "I wasn’t playing the points right. I feel I could have won. I should have won. I was making errors on the key points. I feel I might show up tomorrow and play. I don’t feel I lost. I don’t think it’s set in."     Jelena and Serena are now tied at 4-4 in career matches. Serena had won their previous two meetings, most recently on a hardcourt in the final of the 2008 US Open, where Serena won 6-4, 7-5. Serena and Jelena had never before met on clay. #27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez ESP d #57 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-4, 6-2 Maria José's service toss, Ana driving a forehand, Maria José volleying one, and after match point

Rome, Final, Sat 4pm loser's prize: $175,000 US; points: 620 winner's prize: $350,000 US; points: 900 *#27 Maria José Martinez Sanchez ESP d #7 s7 Jelena Jankovic SRB 7-6(5), 7-5 Maria José's service toss, Jelena and Maria José driving forehand and backhand, and Maria after match point

Rome, Doubles Final, Sat after singles and rest losers' prize: $50,000 US winners' prize: $100,000 US *cdr44 s6 Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta d cdr13 s2 Nuria Llagostera Vives & Maria José Martinez Sanchez 6-4, 6-2 Gisela (12th WTA doubles title) and Flavia (9th, their 6th as a team) after match point, and with the hardware Rome, Qual Finals, Sat May 1 noon losers' prizes: q1 $1,500 1pt; q2 $2,900 20pts; qualifier 30 points #81 Ayumi Morita JPN d #150 Anna Floris ITA 6-1, 6-1 *#128 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA d #95 Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-4, 6-4 *#117 Bojana Jovanovski SRB d #97 Alicia Molik AUS 6-2, 6-3 #142 Sesil Karatantcheva KAZ d #320 Tatiana Poutchek BLR 6-2, 6-1 #102 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB d #136 Chanelle Scheepers RSA 6-0, 7-6(1) #108 Karolina Sprem CRO d #111 Anne Keothavong GBR 6-0, 6-3 #109 Varvara Lepchenko USA d #154 Olga Savchuk UKR 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 *#241 Greta Arn HUN d #113 Ekaterina Bychkova RUS 6-2, 6-4 Rome, Withdrawals #10 s10 Samantha Stosur AUS unspecified injury #25 Alona Bondarenko UKR right knee injury #40 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP right ankle injury #41 Virginie Razzano FRA right foot injury

Estoril Open,  Estoril, Portugal   tourney time:        = GMT +1 hour        = US EDT +5 hours        = US PDT +8 hours Portugal News - Portugal Weather Radar Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Estoril: The 32-player main draw for Estoril 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   Estadio Nacional   Estoril map - venue map Latitude: 38.707683 Longitude: -9.253299 goto link for World Wind 2010: On Sunday, May 2, 17-year-old Portuguese # 1 Michelle Larcher de Brito did the player rep thing at the main draw ceremony... Alizé Cornet visited the Banyan Tree Spa Estoril, and had a foot massage...

Estoril, 1st Round, Mon-Tue 11am loser's prize: $1,725 US; points: 1 *#64 Anastasija Sevastova LAT d #33 s1 Agnes Szavay HUN 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 Mon Agnes and Anastasija driving backhands #39 s2 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #80 Ioana Raluca Olaru ROU 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 Tue *#73 Julia Goerges GER d #46 s3 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 6-1, 6-1 Mon Julia and Aleksandra driving forehand and backhand #48 s4 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #482 wc Megali de Lattre POR 6-0, 6-0 Tue Megali and Anabel driving backhands *#71 Stefanie Voegele SUI d #51 s5 Melinda Czink HUN 6-4, 6-3 Tue *#100 LL Jarmila Groth AUS d #53 s6 Magdalena Rybarikova SVK 6-4, 6-3 Tue #54 s7 Shuai Peng CHN d #79 Julie Coin FRA 6-2, 6-2 Mon Shuai's backhand drive *#72 Kirsten Flipkens BEL d #56 s8 Sybille Bammer AUT 6-1, 6-3 Mon #62 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #137 q Nina Bratchikova RUS 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 Tue *#70 Kimiko Date Krumm JPN d #65 Peta Martic CRO 6(4)-7, 7-5, 7-6(2) Mon Kimiko driving a backhand #82 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #275 q Dia Evtimova BUL 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 Tue *#112 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR d #84 Alizé Cornet FRA 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 Tue Michelle on the attack *#88 Tatjana Malek GER d #85 Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-4, 7-5 Mon #86 Kristina Barrois GER d #91 Jill Craybas USA 6-0, 6-2 Tue *#96 Anastasia Rodionova AUS d #93 q Yvonne Meusburger AUT 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 Tue #121 q Arantxa Rus NED d #490 wc Maria Joao Koehler POR 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 Tue

Estoril, 2nd Round, Wed 11am loser's prize: $2,950 US; points: 30 #39 s2 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #112 wc Michelle Larcher de Brito POR 7-5, 7-5 #48 s4 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #62 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 6-2, 6-3 Anabel after winning a point #54 s7 Shuai Peng CHN d #88 Tatjana Malek GER 6-2, 6-1 #64 Anastasija Sevastova LAT d #70 Kimiko Date Krumm JPN 6-1, 4-2 retired—right calf strain *#96 Anastasia Rodionova AUS d #71 Stefanie Voegele SUI 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 *#121 q Arantxa Rus NED d #72 Kirsten Flipkens BEL 7-6(4), 6-1 *#82 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #73 Julia Goerges GER 3-6, 7-5, 6-2 *#100 LL Jarmila Groth AUS d #86 Kristina Barrois GER 2-6, 6-1, 7-5

Estoril, QFs, Thu 11am loser's prize: $5,340 US; points: 70 #39 s2 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #121 q Arantxa Rus NED 6-4, 6-1 Arantxa ready to swat a backhand, and Sorana driving one *#54 s7 Shuai Peng CHN d #48 s4 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Anabel and Shuai driving backhands #64 Anastasija Sevastova LAT d #96 Anastasia Rodionova AUS 7-6(2), 6-2 #82 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #100 LL Jarmila Groth AUS 6(6)-7, 7-5, 7-5

Estoril, SFs, Fri 10:30am WTA story loser's prize: $10,200 US; points: 130 #82 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #39 s2 Sorana Cirstea ROU 6-1, 6-4 Sorana and Arantxa driving forehands, and Arantxa after match point     Arantxa was 0-3 in previous WTA singles semifinals. Arantxa said: "I was trying to play solid without many mistakes, because she was hitting very hard, and that was the difference. It's my first time in a final and I'm very happy. I'll just keep trying to enjoy myself and try my best...     "[Anastasija is] playing very well. She has beaten some very good players and she's having a good year, so it will be tough, just like every match I've had this week. I think it will be a nice final—I hope it's going to be." *#64 Anastasija Sevastova LAT d #54 s7 Shuai Peng CHN 6(6)-7, 6-1, 6-3 Shuai following a forehand (both Shuai and Arantxa, above, use the left-hand-above-right 2-handed forehand grip, like Marion Bartoli), Anastasija driving a backhand, and after match point     Anastasija said: "I'm really happy to be in the first final of my career. I've never played Arantxa but tomorrow we'll see who is better on that day. I'll try my best."

Estoril, Final, Sat 12:20pm loser's prize: $19,000 US; points: 200 winner's prize: $37,000 US; points: 280 #64 Anastasija Sevastova LAT d #82 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 6-2, 7-5 Anastasija about to swat a forehand, Arantxa fielding a backhand, and Anastasija after match point

Estoril, Doubles Final, Sat 11:30am loser's prize: $5,750 US winner's prize: $11,000 US cdr92 s1 Sorana Cirstea & Anabel Medina Garrigues d Vitalia Diatchenko & Aurelie Vedy 6-1, 7-5 Estoril, Qual Finals, Mon May 3 11am losers' prizes: q1 $265 1pt; q2 $460 6pts; q3 $860 10pts; qualifier 16 points #93 Yvonne Meusburger AUT d #173 Vitalia Diatchenko RUS 6-0, 6-2 *#121 Arantxa Rus NED d #100 Jarmila Groth AUS 7-5, 7-5 #137 Nina Bratchikova RUS d #147 Ekaterina Ivanova RUS 6-4, 6-1 *#275 Dia Evtimova BUL d #192 Laura Pous Tio ESP 2-6, 7-5, 6-0 Estoril, Withdrawals #16 Na Li CHN back injury #61 Angelique Kerber GER left ankle injury #67 Iveta Benesova CZE left shoulder strain #68 Anna-Lena Gronefeld GER left foot injury #69 Sofia Arvidsson SWE toe injury #308 sr Tamira Paszek AUT flu

    (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) - 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.