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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!

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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.

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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

Kim Clijsters is ONLY Seed to Advance Today at Eastbourne

5 Kim Clijsters d Yanina Wickmayer - 61 61 - 2nd Round

She crushes her fellow Belgian in her 1st match back from injury.

Kim joins Sam Stosur & Marion Bartoli as the only seeds in the round of 16.

Now check out this mess of seeded losers today (not good ladies):

Aravane Rezai d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 16 63

Victoria Azarenka d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 76(2) 61

Elena Baltacha d 7 Li Na - 76(2) ret.

Q Ekaterina Makarova d 6 Flavia Pennetta - 76(5) 61

Sorana Cirstea d 2 Francesca Schiavone - 75 63

Photo: Getty Images

Svetlana Kuznetsova Upset in Rome

Maria Kirilenko d 5 Svetlana Kuznetsova - 62 36 64 - 2nd Round

And so Sveta's miserable year continues...

She has failed to reach the quarters in all 7 tournaments played this season.

This, as Roland Garros looms - where she is the defending champion. Um...

1st Round Winners Today Included:

11 Yanina Wickmayer d Q Karolina Sprem - 63 16 64
12 Flavia Pennetta d Q Akgul Amanmuradova - 62 63
13 Francesca Schiavone d Daniela Hantuchova - 36 62 62
Ana Ivanovic d Elena Vesnina - 61 63
Q Bethanie Mattek-Sands d Melanie Oudin - 61 63

Photo: Getty Images

Marion Bartoli Advances to Semifinals in Miami

13 Marion Bartoli d 12 Yanina Wickmayer - 75 64

Of all the words I could use for this match I'll go with... boring sloppy.

But Marion is always interesting to watch - what with her odd rituals.

This is Marion's 2nd trip to a 'premier mandatory' semifinal.

And it's a rematch of the '07 Wimbledon final which Venus WIlliams won.

Photo: Getty Images

WTA Women's Quarterfinals Set in Miami

13 Marion Bartoli vs 12 Yanina Wickmayer - H2H: 0-0

This is Wickmayer's 1st Premier Manditory quarterfinal.

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3 Venus Williams vs Agnieszka Radwanska - H2H: 4-1

Radwanska won the first meeting in '06 and has won only 1 set since.

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9 Samantha Stosur vs 14 Kim Clijsters (above) - H2H: 0-2

Both matches were played during both women's first careers.

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2 Caroline Wozniacki vs w/c Justine Henin - H2H: 0-0

The upstart vs the legend...

Photo: Getty Images

WTA Hands Out 2009 Player Awards in Miami

 

Player of the Year: Serena Williams

Doubles Team: Serena Williams & Venus Williams

Fan Favorite Doubles Teams: Serena Williams & Venus Williams

Newcomer: Melanie Oudin

Most Improved Player: Yanina Wickmayer

Player Service Award: Liezel Huber

 

Comeback Player: Kim Clijsters

Fan Favorite Player: Elena Dementieva

Photos: Getty images

Indian Wells: A Look at the Women's Draw

View the draw HERE.

With Venus and Serena taking their annual pass on Indian Wells and the last 8 years worth of champions not seeded within the top 8 players - this thing could get pretty whacky before the first weekend is over.

Since the top 32 seeds all enjoy 1st round byes I immediately looked to see where wildcard Justine Henin (with no WTA ranking yet) was placed. It turns out that she got a great draw. First she'll play someone I've never heard of (Rybarikova) and then 31 Dulko in the 2nd round. That would set her up for a 3rd round encounter with 5 Agnieszka Radwanska. Um, look for a deep run from Justine.

Next I looked for #41 Melanie Oudin. A few weeks ago I made a prediction that she would be seeded for the French Open and with a good couple rounds here and in Miami it could happen. She opens against Vinci with a 2nd round match against 2-time champ Daniela Hantuchova. Hey, one match gets me closer to a successful prediction. I'm sticking with it!

Last I looked at the seeded projections for the quarterfinals and after I had a good laugh I plotted a more realistic look. Take a gander. Ok, I know I know - I have a soft spot for Jelena Jankovic. Sue me.

Projected Seeded Quarterfinals:

1 Svetlana Kuznetsova vs 6 Jelena Jankovic

3 Victoria Azarenka vs 8 Samantha Stosur

5 Agnieszka Radwanska vs 4 Elena Dementieva

7 Li Na vs 2 Caroline Wozniacki

*****

Yea right - it'll more likely look like this:

14 Kim Clijsters vs 6 Jelena Jankovic

13 Yanina Wickmayer vs 12 Vera Zvonareva

w/c Justine Henin vs 4 Elena Dementieva

10 Maria Sharapova vs 2 Caroline Wozniacki

It's gonna be that crazy. Anyone else feeling a Kim/Justine final?

Israeli Shahar Peer Creates Upset in Dubai

See guys, not so scary is she?

Last year Sharar Peer wasn't granted a visa to play in Dubai (they claimed security concerns) which created quite a controversy with the WTA threatening to heavily sanction the event this year if she wasn't granted entry.

How good must it feel then for Peer to win her first match today!

Shahar Peer d. 13 Yanina Wickmayer - 36 62 75

Peer must feel like she is under house arrest though as she is only allowed to travel between her hotel and the tournament grounds.

(Some) Winners from Day 5 of the Australian Open

Welcome to the 4th round kids.

Dinara Safina d. Elena Baltacha - 61 62

No chciken served here.

Rafael Nadal d. Philipp Kohlschreiber - 64 62 26 75

Yea, VAMOS!

Andy Murray d. Florent Serra - 75 61 64

On course for a Rafa showdown in the quarters.

Fernando Gonzalez d. Evgeny Korolev - 67(5) 63 16 63 64

Fernando akimbo.

Yanina Wickmayer d. Sara Errani - 61 67(4) 63

Next up is Justine Henin - battle of the Belgians.

Juan Martin Del Potro d. Florian Mayer - 63 06 64 75

Daddy long-legs - freakish.

Andy Roddick d. Feliciano Lopez - 67(4) 64 64 76(3)

Zounds what mounds!

Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Angelique Kerber - 36 75 64

Uh, scarey close Sveta.

Photos: AP/Reuters/Getty Images

Rain Plagues Opening Day of Australian Open

Thank god for those roofs on Rod Laver and Hisense Arenas.

At the US Open we'd be watching Aaron Krickstein already.

When rain stopped play on the outer courts Svetlana Kuznetsova (above, hilariously) was up 2-0 in the opening set. 

Also a great match was in progress between Radek Stepanek and Ivo Karlovic, with Ivo up 26 76 64 23.

And Yanina Wickmayer is locked at 7-7 in the 3rd set with Alexandra Dulgheru.

The weather report isn't so great for the rest of Day 1 with on and off showers expected. What is this Wimbledon?

Photo: Reuters

Weekend Winner Wrap-Up - January 10, 2010

Brisbane International in Australia

Andy Roddick d. Radek Stepanek - 76(1) 76(8)

Kim Clijsters d. Justine Henin - 63 46 76(6)

Chennai Open in India

Croatian Marin Cilic  Photo: Eurosport

Marin Cilic d. Stanislas Wawrinka - 76(2) 76(3)

Qatar Open in Doha

Nikolay Davydenko d. Rafael Nadal - 06 76(8) 64

ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand

Yanina Wickmayer d. Flavia Pennetta - 63 62

Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia

Spain's Tommy Robredo & Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez d.

Great Britain's Andy Murray & Laura Robson - 2 matches to 1

Hey, the Drug Reversal Trio went 2 for 3 Today

In Brisbane #3 seed Richard Gasquet beat Jarkko Nieminen, 63 46 64. Now stear clear of anyone named Pamela.

At the WTA stop in Auckland Yanina Wickmayer beat Julia Goerges, 63 75. Now let them know where you can be reached for a little pee.

And the loser today, Xavier Malisse lost to Nick Lindahl in Brisbane in the final round of qualifying, 61 76(2).