2/24/2009

Week #7: Venus Williams takes the title in Dubai

Dubai showed again that, when they are fit and focused, the Williams sisters are superior to the rest of the WTA players. The semifinal match between Venus and Serena Williams, which was decided in the third set tiebreak, was the actual final of the tournament, as Venus found little opposition on surprising finalist Virginie Razzano. Estonian Kaia Kanepi completed the semis. The lower half of the draw was plenty of surprises, with Kanepi upsetting Jelena Jankovic, Razzano upsetting Dinara Safina and Vera Zvonareva and quarter-finalist Elena Vesnina upsetting Svetlana Kuznetsova. In the upper half all the top seeds reached the quarters, but Ana Ivanovic and Elena Dementieva were defeated by the Williams.

In Memphis, the two top seeds and main favourites Caroline Wozniacki and Victoria Azarenka fulfilled the expectatives reaching the final, clearly won by Azarenka, and getting the doubles title. Azarenka, who got her 2nd WTA title this season, had more troubles in the semis, where she defeated German Sabine Lisicki in the third set tie-break, with Anne Keothavong completing the semis. The tournament lacked of big surprises and Michaella Krajicek was the only unseeded player reaching the quarters. Krajicek went through the qualy to win her first WTA Main Draw match since June, after some time out due to injuries and personnal problems, and even managed to take a set from Wozniacki.

Finally, in Bogota Spanish Maria Jose Martinez got the first WTA title in her career after defeating Argentinian Gisela Dulko in the final. Martinez also got the doubles title with partner Nuria Llagostera. Romanian Edina Gallovits and Austrian Patricia Mayr completed the semis, while 1st seed Flavia Pennetta was upsetted in the first round by Masa Zec Peskiric.

Dubai (UAE), Premier, $2,000,000
Final: Venus Williams (USA) def Virginie Razzano (FRA) 6/4 6/2

Memphis (USA), International, $220,000
Final: Victoria Azarenka (BLR) def Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 6/1 6/3

Bogota (COL), International, $220,000
Final: Maria Jose Martinez (ESP) def Gisela Dulko (ARG) 6/3 6/2

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