February 17th, 2008
Antwerp, Belgium and Vina Del Mar, Chile
The World Number 1 headlined the Antwerp event while Flavia Pennetta was the top seed in Chile. The difference between the two events were rather simple. One was held in an indoor carpet arena and the other, a red clay event outdoors.
Pennetta was the number 1 seed in her event and made quick work of all competition she faced on her way to the Finals. She was so good that she simply did not lose a single set throughout the entire tournament. In the Finals, Pennetta was facing off against a player who was having a great week, until she reached the Finals, Klara Zakopalova. Pennetta who had little to any competition throughout the event, won the inagural Cachantun Cup over Zakopalova when she retired with a 6-4, 5-4 victory. The Czech fell and injured her ankle. For Pennetta, it was her 5th WTA Career title and first since Bangkok last year. For winning the Tier III title, the Italian took home $30,500 dollars.
Meanwhile in Antwerp, the World Number 1, had some trouble in her early round matches, being taken to 3 sets in a couple of rounds. But eventually, Henin who faced the least amount of stiff competition on paper that she could have, won the title for the first time in her home country. Unlike the inagural event in Chile, this was sadly the last event that Antwerp would hold. The Tier II title was contested between Justine Henin and Karin Knapp. The match was one of the easiest Henin's had all week as she won the event, 6-3, 6-3. It was the number 1's 41st career title and 2nd of the year, after Sydney earlier in January. Henin took home $95,500 dollars.
Next week the WTATour moves to Doha with a strong field featuring Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams as some big names, and to Bogota for a smaller event.
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