First there's the Tier I/Premier Mandatory/Grand Slam part of the draw.
The Sisters Williams keep right on rolling trough Dubai with easy straight set wins over quality opponents today. Too bad I've learned my lesson and never put money on Venus anymore. She'll looked to be the cleaner and stronger of the two so far, but we all know how that went in Melbourne. Venus will face her first tough matchup with Lena D tomorrow.
Serena will face a newly confident and aggressive (but not so confident and aggressive that she's out of the woods yet) Baby E, who continued her uber-aggressive play today to beat Pin 62 76(5). Once again the kid's cyborgian shoulder reeled off 7 aces on her way to the win. Good girl. Now we finally get the matchup that has eluded us for two and half years. Here's hoping E doesn't get completely embarassed. Still though, nice performances from Baby E this week. Lots to build on going in to the North American swing.
Then there's the Tier III, "Huh? Why did I buy these tickets" side of the draw. Kaia Kanepi will face Elena Vesnina in one quarterfinal and Bepa will face Razzano in the other. Eh?
Scores:
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (13) Zheng Jie (CHN) 64 62
(16) Kaia Kanepi (EST) d. (3) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 62 75
(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (14) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 61 63
(5) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. (11) Marion Bartoli (FRA) 52 ret. (foot pain)
(6) Venus Williams (USA) d. (10) Alizé Cornet (FRA) 63 62
(8) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) d. (LL) Camille Pin (FRA) 62 76(5)
(Q) Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. (12) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 46 61 40 ret. (heat illness)
Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 62 16 62
