TennisToday

Kim Clijsters & Maria Sharapova to Play for WTA Title in Cincinnati

Cincinnati WTA - Final Preview

4 Kim Clijsters vs 10 Maria Sharapova - H2H: 4-3

Here comes another battle of former #1's in Cincy.

Factor: Maria played a 3-set night match. Kim played 3 games in the day.

In their H2H Kim won the 1st 4 - Maria's won the last 3.

Tho they haven't faced-off since the Sf's at the Australian Open in '07.

Both ladies are looking for their 3rd title of the 2010 season.

Yesterday's win will move Maria back into the top 10 - first time in 2 years.

A win today will see Kim's ranking rise to #4.

Kim & Maria both had a significant week. Either way, well done ladies.

Photo: Getty Images

Kim Clijsters Thru to Final as Ana Ivanovic Retires with Injured Foot in Cincinnati

Cincinnati WTA - Semifinal

4 Kim Clijsters d Ana Ivanovic - 21 ret'd

Ah Ana... just when you were turning the career around. Bad luck.

Doubtful, but let's just hope this is behind her for the US Open.

Ana told Kim at the net that she "felt a crack in her foot."

Didn't that just happen to Kim? Kept her out of the game for 6 weeks...

***

KIM CLIJSTERS

In only her 8th tournament for the 2010 season this is her 3rd final: 2-0.

Cincy is where exactly a year ago Kim made her return to the tour.

She made it to the Qf's before losing to Safina - after beating 2 seeds.

Since returning she's titled 3 times: US Open in '09, Brisbane & Miami in '10.

This week she is guaranteed the #5 ranking - a win moves her up to #4.

Mama done good!

Photos: AP

Kim Clijsters Leads Semifinalists at WTA Cincinnati

Cincinnati WTA - Semifinals

4 Kim Clijsters (above) vs Ana Ivanovic - H2H: 1-0

Here's a potential fun one between 2 former #1's.

Kim's win yesterday will move her up to #5 in the rankings on Monday.

Winning the tourny will probably get her up to #4 - in only 9 events played.

Ana's showing will help her ranking as well - into the top 40. US Open seed?

Welcome back to weekend play Ana - let's make it a habit, shall we!

***

10 Maria Sharapova vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - H2H: 0-0

First time: I actually spelled Pavlyuchenkova's correctly name without looking.

These battling Russian's are both looking for their 3rd titles of the year.

Killer stat: In 10 events played in '10 Maria will play her 5th Sf: 4-0.

Except for the little hiccup at the end - her match last night was full-flight.

***

Quarterfinal Results

Ana Ivanovic d Akgul Amanmuradova - 61 63

That had to feel good to kick some ass.

4 Kim Clijsters d 11 Flavia Pennetta - 76(6) 64

Mom had a tight fight but got it done.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d 12 Yanina Wickmayer - 75 36 61

Yanina better get it going - she has a ton of points to defend at the Open.

10 Maria Sharapova d 16 Mraion Bartoli - 61 64

Maria Maria Maria... that shoud have been 61 62!

Photo: Getty Images

Svetlana Kuznetsova went to the Mall in Cincinnati Yall

I'm sure this helped with the sting of the Sharapova loss.

What a crack up! I wanna go shopping with her!

Photos from Sveta's Twitter

Ana Ivanovic Wins a 3rd Match in Cincinnati

Cincinnati WTA - 3rd Round

Ana Ivanovic d Elena Vesnina - 60 63

Ana is on fire this week - well, on fire for Ana these days.

This is only her third trip to a tour Qf this year: 2-0.

The win turns her W/L for '10 to the good: 15-14.

She'll face either Jankovic or Amanmuradova (!) in the Qfs.

Post match: When you're winning you're in a good mood the whole day.

I am actually having fun playing tennis again!

***

Drama: Rogers Cup reversed their decision & finally offered her a wildcard.

She basically told them to eff off. Go girl.

Photo: Reuters

Ana Ivanovic Wins 2-in-a-Row at WTA Cincinnati

Cincinnati WTA - 2nd Round

Ana Ivanovic d Yaroslava Shvedova - 61 75

This is only the 3rd time she's won 2 back-to-back matches since Wimby '09.

Thought I'd never say this but that jack-knife fist pump is a welcome sight.

Ana is currently ranked #62 and has been a non-factor for well over a year.

She will next face Elena Vesnina: H2H: 1-0. This too is winnable Ana. Do it.

Photo: Getty Images

Maria Sharapova Wins Battle of Russians in Cincinnati

Cincinnati WTA - 1st Round

10 Maria Sharapova d Svetlana Kuznetsova - 64 16 62

You know what I always say... Play the weekend & lose early the next week.

I don't think this loss is going to sting too much - she just won San Diego.

Maria will next play (a new fave) Andrea Petkovic - H2H: 0-0.

Photo: Reuters

Melanie Oudin is Enduring the Dreaded 'Sophomore Slump'

Cincinnati WTA - 1st Round

Elena Vesnina d Melanie Oudin - 62 63

The American darling of last year's USO is having a rough season.

She'd a great February winning Fed Cup matches & a Sf & Qf in tournaments.

Other than that she has only won back-to-back matches twice.

Wrong way: She earned her career high ranking of 31 in April, she's now #42.

But with Qf points to defend at the Open... Time to 'Believe' again.

Sophomore slumps are pretty common tho - and she's young.

I 'believe' she will work through it & rise to new heights in 2011.

Photo: Melanie at the Great American Tower earlier in the week - Getty Images

Jelena Jankovic at the All-Access Hour in Cincinnati

No idea, so don't ask. It's hot though.

Jelena gave us this treat via her Facebook page.

Yay us!