July 20th, 2008
Bad Gastein, Austria and Stanford, USA
For the Bank of the West Classic, the names just dropped off significantly. Lindsay Davenport pulled out of the event even before it began and heavy favorite to win the easy title was Serena Williams. It looked that way after Williams cruised to her Semi-Final round destroying Patty Schnyder on the way in the Quarter-Finals. Then something happened, Serena's knee began to act up in the Semi's. Trailing 6-2, 3-1 down, Williams retired which put the question of whether she'll be fit for the Olympics next month. Williams already missed the 2004 Olympics due to her knee. Wozniack took advantage of getting to the Finals however and dismissed Marion Bartoli, 7-5, 6-3. Wozniack became the first Canadian since 1988 to win a WTA Tour title and she'll be looking to continue her streak in the coming weeks. As for Serena, its highly doubtful she'll play in Los Angeles next week.
In Bad Gastein, nothing too surprising happened, in the Finals Parmentier was facing off against Qualifier, Lucie Hradecka. Some surprising losses happened with Wozniacki and Szavay losing, but the Frenchwoman Parmentier didn't notice all that, seeded fourth she won the Finals with a comfortable, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
The tour turns its attention now to the East West Bank Classic in Los Angeles next week where Serena Williams is still scheduled to play as well as Jelena Jankovic. Also in Slovenia, the Banka Koper Slovenia Open takes place for lower ranked players.
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