If there was a pic of Flavia I would put it up but as it is it might be more appropriate anyways. What's up with my favorite Italian Bird Thrower? Such a strong end of 2008 and then she's barely left the ground in 2009. Here's a list of her results so far:
- Hobart -- l to Rybarikova
- AO -- l to AMG
- Fed Cup -- win over Cornet and Momes
- Bogota -- l to Zec Peskiric
- Acapulco -- makes the final and loses to Venus 1 and 2 (on clay!)
- Monterey -- l to Zhalavova Strychova
- IW -- l to Ana
- Miami -- l to Momes
- Barcelona -- l to Vinci
Rybarikova? AMG on hard court? Zec Peskiric? Strychova? Vinci? Really?
Luckily Flavs' loss was the only horrific news of the day, though if you're Aranxta Sanchez Vicario you're a little pissed that your tournament has lost its top two seeds in the first round. Makiri, the defending champion at Barcelona, is quietly making her way through the draw, which is good to see.
Back on home soil Sania tempted us with an upset, only to have the door slammed in her face by Venus, who won in three. In the two big upsets of the day, Vezie took out Peppermint Patty in three, and Fed Cup hero Melanie Oudin dished out a bagel to a tired CanWoz.
Charleston:
(2) Venus Williams (USA) d. Sania Mirza (IND) 61 36 62
(5) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 63 63
Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. (8) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 62 67(5) 75
(Q) Melanie Oudin (USA) d. (9) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 75 60
(10) Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 75 26 75
Viktoriya Kutuzova (UKR) d. (11) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 64 75
Anastasia Rodionova (RUS) d. (12) Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 62 64
(13) Virginie Razzano (FRA) d. Stephanie Dubois (CAN) 63 76(3)
(16) Sabine Lisicki (GER) d. (Q) Lenka Wienerova (SVK) 64 63
Melinda Czink (HUN) d. Vania King (USA) 64 62
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) d. (Q) Shenay Perry (USA) 62 63
Barcelona:
Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (2/WC) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 61 62
(6) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. Severine Bremond (FRA) 75 62
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (ESP) d. (LL) Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) 75 57 62
(Q) Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) d. Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 36 63 60
