March 2nd, 2008
Dubai, U.A.E., Memphis, USA, Alcapulco, Mexico
The WTA Tour was busy this week having three stops in 3 different countries around the world. The well known players were busy in Dubai, while some headliners made their way to Memphis and the lower tier of players battled it out on the clay in Mexico.
Dubai featured the Top 4 players in the world, all competing to try and grab the illustrious crown that has been rising to become a very important stop on the tour. Justine Henin was the defending champion and clearly the favorite for the title. Maria Sharapova pulled out before the event began. Sadly for tournament organizers, most big names were ousted by the Quarter-Finals. Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic did not reach the Finals. It was a huge upset for the world number 1 after winning 4 out of the last 5 years in Dubai. The final was being contested by two Russian, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova. The world number 2 was the heavy favorite but was stunned in a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss to Dementieva. For Dementieva it signals a return to the top of tennis, a place she was more familiar with a few years ago making the Finals of Roland Garros and the US Open. For Kuznetsova it means she is now 9-14 in tour finals...not a good margin. This was Dementieva's 9th career title.
In Memphis, the two headliners were Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams. They were expected to go far, but sadly for Williams who crashed out in the early rounds, it would not come to be. Davenport however thrashed all her competition, which she has shown she can do at lower tier events and wins her 55th career title and first since Auckland in January. Davenport next heads to Indian Wells where she hopes to up her level and claim her biggest title since her return last September.
Flavia Pennetta once again has captured a clay court title. It was her second title in Alcapulco but her 5th consecutive trip to the Finals there. In the Finals she would face first time finalist Alize Cornet. It was a back and forth match but Pennetta's clay court game and experience won her the event and a second title for the year. She did not lose a set all tournament long until the Finals in her 6-0, 4-6, 6-1 victory over the French teenager. It was Pennetta's 6th career title.
The WTA Tour stops in Bangalore for the Bangalore Open next week. Most of the headlining players will be at home practicing for Indian Wells which is the week after. However, big names Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams are expected to play in Bangalore.
No comments:
Post a Comment