Alisa Kleybanova beat top seed Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2 in a rain-disrupted all-Russian final to claim her first WTA title at the Malaysian Open on Sunday.
Alisa Kleybanova won a riveting three hour, 16 minute 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 slugfest over fifth-seeded Serb Jelena Jankovic and her gritty performance earned her a loud ovation from an appreciative crowd and a Saturday date with Maria Sharapova.
Alisa Kleybanova says she will bring a whole new approach to her tennis career when she returns to tournament action on Tuesday after a ten month battle with cancer.
Top seed Justine Henin will face qualifier Timea Bacsinszky in the Antwerp tournament semi-finals.
Jelena Jankovic came from 2-4 down in the second set to book her place in the semi-finals of the Indian Wells WTA tournament with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Russian Alisa Kleybanova on Thursday.
Jelena Jankovic had to fight her way into the fourth round of the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Monday while former world number one Kim Clijsters was upset by Russian Alisa Kleybanova. Serbian sixth seed Jankovic beat Italian Sara Errani 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 in an error-strewn marathon on the stadium court before twice champion Clijsters of Belgium tumbled out 6-4, 1-6, 7-6.
Ana Ivanovic ended the season on a positive note by defeating Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 7-6 in the final of the Tournament of Champions in Bali on Sunday.
World number three Venus Williams followed her sister Serena out of the Madrid Open Tuesday when she was beaten 6-3 3-6 7-5 by unseeded Russian teen-ager Alisa Kleybanova in the second round.
The Indian girl and Alisa Kleybanova defeated Emma Laine of Finland and Nadja Pavic of Crotia 6-1, 6-2 in the quarters.
The Indian ace and Russian partner Vera Dushevina lost to 11th seeds Alisa Kleybanova and Ekaterina Makarova 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-7(3) in a first round match.
Sania Mirza and Cara Black brushed aside the challenge of Jelena Jankovic and Alisa Kleybanova to reach the women's doubles quarter-finals but Rohan Bopanna's campaign ended at the French Open following his defeat in the mixed doubles quarter-finals.
French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova and her fellow Russian Elena Dementieva won their opening round matches at the Sydney International Sunday, one of the major lead-up events to the Australian Open.
Sania Mirza's campaign ended with a straight-set defeat in the women's doubles' third round on a disappointing day for the Indians at the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova continued her salvage operation at the Pan Pacific Open by screeching into the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki battled her way into the last eight at the Indian Wells WTA tournament on Tuesday while twice champion Kim Clijsters retired hurt with a painful shoulder.
Kim Clijsters came through a major test of her early season form to reach the Sydney International final with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 victory over Alisa Kleybanova on Thursday.
Sara Errani romped to a 6-1, 6-1 win over Alisa Kleybanova in Cagliari to hand Italy an unassailable 3-0 lead over Russia and their third Fed Cup title in five years on Sunday.
Sumit Nagal entered the history books as only sixth Indian to win a Grand Slam junior title after winning the boys doubles trophy at the Wimbledon Championships with partner Nam Hoang Ly on Sunday.
India's Sania Mirza and her partner Martina Hingis staged a superb comeback to clinch the women's doubles title after a thrilling victory against Russian duo of Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova in the final, on Saturday.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances