RESULTS - AUGUST 09, 2009
Women's
Singles - Finals
[10] F Pennetta (ITA) d [13] S Stosur (AUS) 64 63
Women's
Doubles - Finals
C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN) d M Kirilenko (RUS) / A Radwanska (POL) 60 46 10-7
RESULTS - AUGUST 08, 2009
Women's
Singles - Semifinals
[10] F Pennetta (ITA) d M Sharapova (RUS) 62 46 63
[13] S Stosur (AUS) d S Cirstea (ROU) 63 62
Women's
Doubles - Semifinals
M Kirilenko (RUS) / A Radwanska (POL) d [4] S Hsieh (TPE) / S Peng (CHN) 61 62
C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN) d V King (USA) / M Niculescu (ROU) 16 62 11-9
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 09, 2009
STADIUM start 11:45 am
M Kirilenko (RUS) / A Radwanska (POL) vs C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN)
Not Before 2:00 PM
[13] S Stosur (AUS) vs [10] F Pennetta (ITA)
RESULTS - AUGUST 07, 2009
Women's
Singles - Quarterfinals
[10] F Pennetta (ITA) d [2] V Zvonareva (RUS) 64 62
S Cirstea (ROU) d [8] A Radwanska (POL) 76(4) 16 75
[13] S Stosur (AUS) d [14] J Zheng (CHN) 46 63 64
M Sharapova (RUS) d U Radwanska (POL) 64 75
ORDER OF PLAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 08, 2009
STADIUM start 12:00 noon
V King (USA) / M Niculescu (ROU) vs C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN)
Not Before 2:00 PM
[13] S Stosur (AUS) vs S Cirstea (ROU)
Not Before 7:00 PM
M Sharapova (RUS) vs [10] F Pennetta (ITA)
M Kirilenko (RUS) / A Radwanska (POL) vs [4] S Hsieh (TPE) / S Peng (CHN) - Fireworks: 10/15 min break
ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, AUGUST 07, 2009
STADIUM start 12:00 noon
S Cirstea (ROU) vs [8] A Radwanska (POL)
Not Before 2:15 PM
[14] J Zheng (CHN) vs [13] S Stosur (AUS)
Not Before 8:00 PM
U Radwanska (POL) vs M Sharapova (RUS)
[10] F Pennetta (ITA) vs [2] V Zvonareva (RUS)
Wednesday's Scores
Second round singles -- Dinara Safina (1), Russia, def. Daniela Hantuchova, Slovakia, 6-2, 6-4; Nadia Petrova (6), Russia, def. Shahar Peer, Israel, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3; Urszula Radwanska, Poland, def. Dominika Cibulkova (7), Slovakia, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-4; Agnieszka Radwanska (8), Poland, def. Ai Sugiyama, Japan, 6-2, 6-1; Flavia Pennetta (10), Italy, def. CoCo Vandeweghe, U.S., 6-2, 6-4; Samantha Stosur (13), Australia, def. Maria Kirilenko, Russia, 6-2, 6-4; Jie Zheng (14), China, def. Elena Vesnina, Russia, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0; Anna Chakvetadze, Russia, def. Alisa Kleybanova, Russia, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; Yanina Wickmayer, Belgium, def. Jill Craybas, U.S., 7-6 (2), 6-1; Na Li (12), China, def. Aleksandra Wozniak, Canada, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2; Alona Bondarenko, Ukraine, def. Lucie Safarova, Czech Republic, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5; Sabine Lisicki, Germany, Ekaterina Makarova, Russia, 6-1, 6-4; Maria Sharapova, Russia, def. Victoria Azarenka, Belarus, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-2; Sorana Cirstea, Romania, def. Caroline Wozniacki (4), Denmark, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
First round doubles -- Su-Wei Hsieh, Taipei-Shuai Peng, China (4) def. Tatiana Poutchek, Belarus-Olga Savchuk, Ukraine, 6-2, 6-3; Vania King, U.S.-Monica Niculescu, Romania, def. Flavia Pennetta, Italy-Lisa Raymond, U.S., 7-5, 6-3; Samantha Stosur, Australia-Rennae Stubbs, Australia, def. Virginia Ruano Pascual, Spain-Jie Zheng, China, 6-4, 6-4; Maria Kirilenko, Russia-Agnieszka Radwanska, Poland, 6-2, 4-6, 1-0.
ORDER OF PLAY - THURSDAY, AUGUST 06, 2009
STADIUM start 11:00 am
Y Wickmayer (BEL) vs [2] V Zvonareva (RUS)
Not Before 12:30 PM
[13] S Stosur (AUS) vs [6] A Ivanovic (SRB)
A Bondarenko (UKR) vs M Sharapova (RUS)
[4] C Wozniacki (DEN) or S Cirstea (ROU) vs [17] S Lisicki (GER)
Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] D Safina (RUS) vs [14] J Zheng (CHN)
C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN) vs [2] D Hantuchova (SVK) / A Sugiyama (JPN)
COURT 4 start 11:00 am
A Chakvetadze (RUS) vs [8] A Radwanska (POL)
Not Before 12:30 PM
[5] N Petrova (RUS) vs [10] F Pennetta (ITA)
U Radwanska (POL) vs [12] N Li (CHN)
T Garbin (ITA) / F Schiavone (ITA) vs V King (USA) / M Niculescu (ROU)
COURT 5 start 3:30 pm
[1] S Stosur (AUS) / R Stubbs (AUS) vs M Kirilenko (RUS) / A Radwanska (POL) - After suitable rest
RESULTS - AUGUST 04, 2009
Women's
Singles - Second Round
[2] V Zvonareva (RUS) d S Peng (CHN) 36 63 76(6)
[6] A Ivanovic (SRB) d [WC] V King (USA) 64 46 61
First Round
[12] N Li (CHN) d A Morita (JPN) 60 20 Retired
[13] S Stosur (AUS) d M Niculescu (ROU) 61 62
[14] J Zheng (CHN) d [Q] O Savchuk (UKR) 75 16 62
[17] S Lisicki (GER) d [Q] K Date Krumm (JPN) 76(5) 26 75
D Hantuchova (SVK) d [Q] M Oudin (USA) 67(3) 62 62
M Kirilenko (RUS) d [Q] C Scheepers (RSA) 46 63 61
S Cirstea (ROU) d [WC] M Larcherde Brito (POR) 64 75
E Makarova (RUS) d M Czink (HUN) 36 64 61
U Radwanska (POL) d J Coin (FRA) 61 62
A Wozniak (CAN) d B Mattek-Sands (USA) 75 75
Women's
Doubles - First Round
[2] D Hantuchova (SVK) / A Sugiyama (JPN) d [WC] J Craybas (USA) / C Gullickson (USA) 64 61
A Bondarenko (UKR) / E Vesnina (RUS) d A Kleybanova (RUS) / E Makarova (RUS) 64 76(4)
T Garbin (ITA) / F Schiavone (ITA) d M Shaughnessy (USA) / A Spears (USA) 61 64
ORDER OF PLAY - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 05, 2009
STADIUM start 11:00 am
[5] N Petrova (RUS) vs S Peer (ISR)
[WC] C Vandeweghe (USA) vs [10] F Pennetta (ITA)
[1] D Safina (RUS) vs D Hantuchova (SVK)
V King (USA) / M Niculescu (ROU) vs [3] F Pennetta (ITA) / L Raymond (USA)
Not Before 7:00 PM
M Sharapova (RUS) vs [3] V Azarenka (BLR)
[4] C Wozniacki (DEN) vs S Cirstea (ROU)
COURT 4 start 11:00 am
[7] D Cibulkova (SVK) vs U Radwanska (POL)
Not Before 12:30 PM
A Sugiyama (JPN) vs [8] A Radwanska (POL)
A Wozniak (CAN) vs [12] N Li (CHN)
E Makarova (RUS) vs [17] S Lisicki (GER)
COURT 5 start 11:00 am
E Vesnina (RUS) vs [14] J Zheng (CHN)
Not Before 12:30 PM
[Q] J Craybas (USA) vs Y Wickmayer (BEL)
L Safarova (CZE) vs A Bondarenko (UKR)
[1] S Stosur (AUS) / R Stubbs (AUS) vs V Ruano Pascual (ESP) / J Zheng (CHN)
COURT 7 start 11:00 am
A Chakvetadze (RUS) vs A Kleybanova (RUS)
Not Before 12 Noon
[13] S Stosur (AUS) vs M Kirilenko (RUS)
[4] S Hsieh (TPE) / S Peng (CHN) vs T Poutchek (BLR) / O Savchuk (UKR)
A Kudryavtseva (RUS) / A Rodionova (RUS) vs M Kirilenko (RUS) / A Radwanska (POL)
RESULTS - AUGUST 03, 2009
Women's
Singles - First Round
[10] F Pennetta (ITA) d [LL] V Lepchenko (USA) 62 57 60
A Chakvetadze (RUS) d [11] V Razzano (FRA) 76(5) 63
L Safarova (CZE) d [15] K Kanepi (EST) 63 76(4)
[Q] J Craybas (USA) d [16] F Schiavone (ITA) 76(7) 62
E Vesnina (RUS) d A Szavay (HUN) 61 60
[WC] V King (USA) d S Bammer (AUT) 63 62
A Kleybanova (RUS) d A Kudryavtseva (RUS) 61 63
A Sugiyama (JPN) d [Q] C Gullickson (USA) 63 61
A Bondarenko (UKR) d M Shaughnessy (USA) 36 63 63
M Sharapova (RUS) d J Groth (SVK) 60 64
S Peer (ISR) d [Q] A Rodionova (RUS) 75 41 Retired
[WC] C Vandeweghe (USA) d T Garbin (ITA) 64 64
Y Wickmayer (BEL) d N Vaidisova (CZE) 61 61
S Peng (CHN) d [Q] M Krajicek (NED) 63 67(4) 63
Women's
Doubles - First Round
C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN) d S Cirstea (ROU) / C Wozniacki (DEN) 16 64 10-5
ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, AUGUST 04, 2009
STADIUM start 7:00 pm
[WC] V King (USA) vs [6] A Ivanovic (SRB)
S Peng (CHN) vs [2] V Zvonareva (RUS)
COURT 4 start 11:00 am
[Q] M Oudin (USA) vs D Hantuchova (SVK)
S Cirstea (ROU) vs [WC] M Larcherde Brito (POR)
A Wozniak (CAN) vs B Mattek-Sands (USA)
[WC] J Craybas (USA) / C Gullickson (USA) vs [2] D Hantuchova (SVK) / A Sugiyama (JPN)
COURT 5 start 11:00 am
[Q] K Date Krumm (JPN) vs [17] S Lisicki (GER)
[Q] C Scheepers (RSA) vs M Kirilenko (RUS)
[13] S Stosur (AUS) vs M Niculescu (ROU)
COURT 7 start 11:00 am
[Q] O Savchuk (UKR) vs [14] J Zheng (CHN)
U Radwanska (POL) vs J Coin (FRA)
T Garbin (ITA) / F Schiavone (ITA) vs M Shaughnessy (USA) / A Spears (USA)
COURT 8 start 11:00 am
M Czink (HUN) vs E Makarova (RUS)
A Morita (JPN) vs [12] N Li (CHN)
A Bondarenko (UKR) / E Vesnina (RUS) vs A Kleybanova (RUS) / E Makarova (RUS)
Results: August 2, 2009
Women's
Qualifying Singles - Second Round
Qualifying - J Craybas (USA) d S Perry (USA) 60 57 64
Qualifying - M Oudin (USA) d M South (GBR) 63 36 63
Qualifying - C Scheepers (RSA) d V Lepchenko (USA) 63 60
Qualifying - M Krajicek (NED) d A Glatch (USA) 62 46 62
Qualifying - A Rodionova (RUS) d [WC] S Stephens (USA) 63 61
Qualifying - K Date Krumm (JPN) d J Ditty (USA) 46 76(3) 61
Qualifying - O Savchuk (UKR) d A Haynes (USA) 64 63
Qualifying - C Gullickson (USA) d [WC] L Nelson (USA) 63 64
First Round
Qualifying - O Savchuk (UKR) d B Augustine (USA) 61 63
ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 03, 2009
STADIUM start 7:00 pm
M Sharapova (RUS) vs J Groth (SVK)
T Garbin (ITA) vs [WC] C Vandeweghe (USA)
COURT 4 start 11:00 am
[WC] V King (USA) vs S Bammer (AUT)
Y Wickmayer (BEL) vs N Vaidisova (CZE)
[11] V Razzano (FRA) vs A Chakvetadze (RUS)
M Shaughnessy (USA) vs A Bondarenko (UKR)
COURT 5 start 11:00 am
[Q] C Gullickson (USA) vs A Sugiyama (JPN)
[16] F Schiavone (ITA) vs [Q] J Craybas (USA)
A Szavay (HUN) vs E Vesnina (RUS)
Not Before 4:30 PM
S Cirstea (ROU) / C Wozniacki (DEN) vs C Chuang (TPE) / Z Yan (CHN)
COURT 7 start 11:00 am
[15] K Kanepi (EST) vs L Safarova (CZE)
S Peer (ISR) vs [Q] A Rodionova (RUS)
[LL] V Lepchenko (USA) vs [10] F Pennetta (ITA)
COURT 8 start 11:00 am
A Kleybanova (RUS) vs A Kudryavtseva (RUS)
[Q] M Krajicek (NED) vs S Peng (CHN)
Results: August 1, 2009
Women's
Qualifying Singles - First Round
Qualifying - J Craybas (USA) d [WC] N Gibbs (USA) 61 60
Qualifying - M Oudin (USA) d A Jidkova (RUS) 64 61
Qualifying - V Lepchenko (USA) d A Spears (USA) 75 76(5)
Qualifying - A Glatch (USA) d R Fuda (JPN) 62 64
Qualifying - [WC] L Nelson (USA) d E Baltacha (GBR) 46 64 75
Qualifying - A Rodionova (RUS) d T Poutchek (BLR) 61 64
Qualifying - J Ditty (USA) d [WC] D Mills (USA) 61 61
Qualifying - M Krajicek (NED) d A Stevenson (USA) 75 64
Qualifying - [WC] S Stephens (USA) d L Wienerova (SVK) 61 62
Qualifying - A Haynes (USA) d T Hendler (BEL) 63 64
Qualifying - C Gullickson (USA) d S Hsieh (TPE) 63 36 63
Qualifying - S Perry (USA) d Z Yan (CHN) 64 62
Qualifying - C Scheepers (RSA) d Y Fedossova (FRA) 26 63 60
Qualifying - M South (GBR) d K Ahn (USA) 62 63
Qualifying - K Date Krumm (JPN) d [WC] A Riske (USA) 64 46 63
ORDER OF PLAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 02, 2009
COURT 4 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - [WC] L Nelson (USA) vs C Gullickson (USA)
Qualifying - A Glatch (USA) vs M Krajicek (NED)
Qualifying - M Oudin (USA) vs M South (GBR)
COURT 5 start 11:00 am
Qualifying - V Lepchenko (USA) vs C Scheepers (RSA)
Qualifying - J Craybas (USA) vs S Perry (USA)
Qualifying - J Ditty (USA) vs K Date Krumm (JPN)
COURT 7 start 12:00 noon
Qualifying - Y Chan (TPE) vs O Savchuk (UKR)
Not Before 1:30 PM
Qualifying - A Rodionova (RUS) vs [WC] S Stephens (USA)
Qualifying - Y Chan (TPE) or O Savchuk (UKR) vs A Haynes (USA) - After suitable rest
Order of Play for Saturday: August 1, 2009
COURT 4 start 10:30 am
Qualifying - E Baltacha (GBR) vs [WC] L Nelson (USA)
Not Before 2:15 PM
Qualifying - [WC] A Riske (USA) vs K Date Krumm (JPN)
Qualifying - M Oudin (USA) vs A Jidkova (RUS)
Qualifying - T Hendler (BEL) vs A Haynes (USA)
COURT 5 start 10:30 am
Qualifying - V Lepchenko (USA) vs A Spears (USA)
Not Before 2:15 PM
Qualifying - J Craybas (USA) vs [WC] N Gibbs (USA)
Qualifying - A Glatch (USA) vs R Fuda (JPN)
Qualifying - [WC] S Stephens (USA) vs L Wienerova (SVK)
COURT 7 start 10:30 am
Qualifying - S Hsieh (TPE) vs C Gullickson (USA)
Not Before 2:15 PM
Qualifying - Z Yan (CHN) vs S Perry (USA)
Qualifying - A Stevenson (USA) vs M Krajicek (NED)
Qualifying - A Rodionova (RUS) vs T Poutchek (BLR)
COURT 8 start 10:30 am
Qualifying - Y Fedossova (FRA) vs C Scheepers (RSA)
Not Before 2:15 PM
Qualifying - J Ditty (USA) vs [WC] D Mills (USA)
Qualifying - K Ahn (USA) vs M South (GBR)
Not Before 5:00 PM
Qualifying - Y Chan (TPE) vs O Savchuk (UKR) - TBA
One Year Later: World No. 1 Dinara Safina
July 8, 2009 - By Matt Paulson
Describing LA Women's Tennis Championship presented by Herbalife defending champion Dinara Safina's rise up the rankings system as "meteoric" doesn't really seem to do it justice.
Last season, Safina, now ranked No. 1 in the world, started the year 11-10 and had seven pre-quarterfinal exits in that stretch. She was hardly foreshadowing the things to come.
Then came the German Open in Berlin, where the Russian right-hander won in early May. She then validated that by reaching the singles final in six of the next eight tournaments, including her July win in Carson, then two more in Montreal and the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. She also was a finalist three times, including the French Open and the Olympics, where the runner-up happens to leave with some hardware of her own: a Silver Medal.
In the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's world rankings, she shot from No. 15 at the end of 2007 to No. 2, beating three world No. 1s along the way - a Tour first in one season - and compiling a 44-7 match record. She was named the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's Player of the Year for 2008.
This season, Safina has continued her ascent. Not only did she win back-to-back tournaments in Rome and Madrid, she has four additional finals appearance, two of which came in the season's first two Grand Slams. Most recently on the Grand Slam scene, Safina advanced to the semifinals at Wimbledon, her furthest run at the All England Club. She maintained her No. 1-in-the-world status through Wimbledon, joining her brother Marat as the first brother-sister combination to earn the world's top spot.
Marat, however, has something on his resume his sister doesn't, and covets: Grand Slam titles. He won the 2000 U.S. Open and the 2005 Australian Open. None of her 11 singles titles is the big one.
If Safina were simply another good young player without a Slam, it would be seen as just a matter of time. However, Safina isn't just any other good young player without a Slam, she's the world No. 1 without a Slam.
"You've been to three finals and you haven't won, but you have the No. 1 status," Safina was asked after her 6-1, 6-0 semifinal loss to Venus Williams at Wimbledon this year, a question she faces often. "Are you happy with that? Do you think it should be centered around someone who wins a slam? Should that be taken as a factor?"
Safina responded, "Well, in the last four Grand Slams, I've reached at least the semifinal. I think this is the result of how you play the whole year. It's not about how you play in one, two tournaments. It's a result of tournament by tournament, day to day.
"I mean, it's not like you just focus on the Grand Slam. I won Rome. I won Madrid. I've been in the final of the French Open. I've been in the final of Australia. Yes, I haven't won it, but it is not end of the world. I still play consistent."
Serena Williams concurred in the early rounds of Wimbledon: "I think Dinara should be the No. 1 seed. She's been really consistent the last couple months. She's earned that No. 1 ranking."
As did outgoing WTA chairman and CEO Larry Scott a few days later: "The players believe in that ranking system. They believe the ranking is right. And I have not had one player come up to me and say, 'How can Dinara Safina be No. 1 in the world?' They believe in it. That's the ultimate test."
Further, tennis icon and Women's Tennis Association founder Billie Jean King has pledged her support towards the rankings system, backing Safina's place as No. 1 due to her consistent play deep into tournaments and a multitude of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles. King believes the notion that a No. 1 ranking should come with Grand Slam titles sends a wrong message.
Safina pointed to her preparation as part of the reason she didn't make it further at Wimbledon this year, saying she played too much going into the event, and next year, she might not play anything from the French until Wimbledon.
"I would like to prepare better for this tournament instead of playing any other tournament before a Grand Slam," she said after her loss to Venus.
Considering she's really only been regarded as a favorite to win the past year or so, it's understandable that she has yet to iron out a winning routine.
Regardless, she has one more shot to do it this season: the U.S. Open. Dating back to last year's Open, she's reached at least the semis in all four Grand Slams played.
Her finish at Wimbledon might also be a sign of good things to come. Admittedly, grass is not her favorite surface, so a semifinal appearance at Wimbledon might be a harbinger of something better at the U.S. Open, a hard surface she prefers.
That bid, however, will have to wait until after the LA Women's Tennis Championship, where she enters a much different player than last season: She's now world No. 1 and defending champion, less a meteor, more a superstar.
Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova had an impressive win in her Grand Slam comeback at the French Open during the second round. Her victory required three sets and a few extra games to reach the third round with a 6-2, 1-6, 8-6 victory over 11th-seeded Nadia Petrova.
Trailing 4-2 in the deciding set, she broke Petrova to get back on serve at 4-4 and then saved two break points to take a 5-4 lead. She saved another break point while serving at 6-6.
Sharapova will join top-seeded Dinara Safina and defending champion Ana Ivanovic in the third round as she faces Yaroslava Shvedova on Friday.
Sharapova, a three-time Grand Slam champion, is hoping to make a solid comeback with her first and second round victories at the French Open, which marks her first Grand Slam appearance in almost a year. Sharapova missed both the U.S. Open and the Australian Open because of her shoulder injury which she had surgery for in October.
In other news, Safina easily beat Russian qualifier Vitalia Diatchenko 6-1, 6-1, and Ivanovic defeated Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 6-1, 6-2.
Safina took a 5-0 lead to open the match, stretching her streak to 17 straight games after winning 6-0, 6-0 in the first round.
