WTA Ranking update

Hi everyone,

It's been a while since the last post, so let's check out the WTA rankings first!

1) Victoria Azarenka - 8980 points
2) Maria Sharapova - 7930 points
3) Petra Kvitova - 7095 points
4) Agnieszka Radwanska - 6630 points
5) Samantha Stosur - 5825 points
6) Caroline Wozniacki - 5330 points
7) Marion Bartoli - 5020 points
8) Na Li - 4880 points
9) Serena Williams - 4300 points
10) Vera Zvonareva - 3895 points

So, not a lot of changes in the top ten. Azarenka is really creating a huge gap of a thousand points between her and the number two, not likely she'll lose that number one spot anytime soon. If you're wondering, Kim Clijsters dropped to number 41 to position her between Cirstea and Pironkova. Hopefully she'll play a kickass grass season because she has forfeit the upcoming gravel tournaments. It won't be easy though without a seeded position, it's been 13(!) years since she played Wimbledon unseeded (she did reach the 4th round then in her first attempt).

In the meantime Serena Williams won the Charleston Family Circle Cup. Stosur was able to defeat Venus in three thrilling sets (6-3, 4-6, 6-3) but Serena proved herself too tough a nut to crack for Stosur (6-1, 6-1). In the final Serena crushed Safarova 6-0, 6-1.

Errani won the Barcelona Ladies Open while Kerber defeated Wozniacki on home soil 6-4, 6-4 in the Copenhagen e-Boks Open.

Next up is Stuttgart - Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, stay tuned!

Update: Miami - Quarter & Semi & Final

Hi everyone,

Let's wrap up the Miami tournament in one post (sorry, springbreak!).

Bartoli, Wozniacki and Radwanska were the women of this tournament!

Bartoli proofed herself by defeating the number one Azarenka in the quarterfinals. Score: 6-3, 6-3. It was a solid win for Bartoli while Azarenka made too much unforced errors. This ends her streak of 26 consecutive wins.

Next up, Wozniacki scored her first win against Serena Williams. It's amazing how she was never able to do so while number one and now it seems it was the pressure holding her back. Sure Serena isn't quite her usual best but she never starts a tournament if she doesn't think she can win it. Score was: 6-4, 6-4. Wozniacki always secured the first break and it took everything to keep that lead with breakpoints flying around. Maybe it's a sign Wozniacki is back, seeking for that number one position again?

Let's not forget Radwanska as a Miami hero! She defeated Venus Williams in the quarter finals: 6-4, 6-1. The amazing long points hurt the exhausted Williams. In an effort to keep the points short, a lot of battling at the net occured and we don't get to see that enough on the WTA if you ask me! Don't be fooled by the two different colors of surface, it's not a magic trick!

In the semi's, Radwanska won against Bartoli 6-4, 6-2. It's a shame Bartoli couldn't play her best due to an injury but it sure made up for an interesting match. There were marathon rallies, lot of drops and lobs and breaks on either side. In fact, Bartoli never even held her own serve.

Radwanska faced Sharapova next in the final when the Russian battled bast Wozniacki 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. The Dane fell in her usual defensive game that didn't hurt Sharapova enough to win the match. 39 winners against 9, auwtch!

The first set of the final went perfectly on serve while it looked like Sharapova was going to break first. She had a couple of breakpoints but couldn't convert them. At 6-5, Sharapova missed a smash and practically handed over set points to Radwanska. The Pole didn't hesitate and grabbed the first set 7-5. Same story in the next set, although Radwanska was more in control this time. Sharapova messed up her last serve game to lose it 5-7, 4-6.

Radwanska is really competing with the top players but don't count out Sharapova just yet, she did reach three finals already this year!