The Russian revolution that has swept women's tennis has not gone according to plan for Elena Dementieva. Dementieva was once touted as the woman most likely to lead the charge after she made the French and US Open finals in 2004, but her achievements have largely been undermined by her own compatriots.
Two years after Justine Henin stunned the sport by announcing her retirement at the age of 25 on the eve of her French Open defence, the Belgian is back and eager to show Roland Garros what it has been missing.
Czech Lucie Safarova stunned world number five Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-3, 6-4 to set up a semi-final clash with Belgium's Justine Henin at the Paris Open on Friday.
World number three Serena Williams and fourth-ranked Ana Ivanovic withdrew from the WTA Championships on Friday.
Defending champion Venus Williams eased into the third round of the Dubai Championships on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Germany's Sabine Lisicki. Top seed Caroline Wozniacki had to recover from 1-5 and save a set point to defeat Slovak Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 7-6 while second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova received a walkover when Spain's Anabel Medina Garrigues withdrew with a back injury.
American fifth seed Serena Williams withdrew from her Italian Open quarter-final with French qualifier Alize Cornet on Friday because of a back injury, organisers said.
Maria Sharapova captured her first claycourt title when she defeated Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova 7-6, 6-3 in the final of the Amelia Island Championships on Sunday. Sharapova became the first woman to win three titles this season following her success at the Australian Open and Qatar Open and improved her 2008 win-loss record to 22-1.
Serena Williams stayed on course to end the year as world number one when she beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6, 7-5 on the opening day of the WTA Championships after sister Venus suffered a shock defeat on Tuesday.
Jelena Jankovic reached the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open after Elena Dementieva retired with a back injury.
World number two Rafa Nadal's comeback came to a shuddering halt on Saturday when he was crushed 6-1, 6-3 by Croatian Marin Cilic in the semi-finals of the $6.6 million China Open.
Australian Open champion Maria Sharapova, holder Daniela Hantuchova and second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova reached the Pacific Life Open quarter-finals in contrasting styles on Tuesday. Fourth seed Sharapova, winner at Indian Wells in 2006, maintained her perfect start to the season but had to work hard to beat Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko 6-2 5-7 6-4.
Ask any of the top seeds at next week's U.S. Open who they would least like to play in the early rounds and there will only be one name uttered - Kim Clijsters.
Kim Clijsters' brilliant comeback continued at the Cincinnati Open with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 win over French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova on Thursday, but the Williams sisters both fell at the third round hurdle. Second seed Serena, struggling with a virus, lost 7-5, 6-4 to Austria's Sybille Bammer while in-form Italian Flavia Pennetta ended the hopes of third seed Venus with a 7-6, 6-4 victory.
Former winner Maria Sharapova, her Russian compatriot Anna Chakvetadze and Serb Ana Ivanovic joined world number one Justine Henin in the semi-finals of the WTA Championships on Thursday.
World number one Dinara Safina downed Slovakian 20th seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-3 6-3 to reach the French Open final on Thursday. Safina clinched victory on her second match point after one hour 41 minutes to keep alive her dreams of winning a maiden Grand Slam title.
Serena Williams, winner of eight Grand Slam tennis titles, says she has been inspired by her fellow American, boxing great Muhammad Ali.
The 91-ranked Indian ace was well and truly beaten 4-6, 6-7 (3-7) by 95-ranked Kazakhstan's Galina Voskoboeva in Paris on Tuesday.
World number one Dinara Safina swept to her second claycourt title in as many weeks with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki in the Madrid Open final on Sunday. After her triumph over compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova in last week's Rome final, the powerful Russian top seed sealed another comfortable win and looks in fine form leading up to the French Open at the end of this month.
World number one Dinara Safina took a first step towards a second consecutive claycourt title by battling to a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Li Na at the Madrid Open on Wednesday.
Flavia Pennetta and Francesca Schiavone gave Italy a shock 2-0 lead over champions Russia, while the United States and the Czech Republic were level at 1-1 after day one in the Fed Cup semi-finals on Saturday. Pennetta swept past an out-of-sorts Anna Chakvetadze 6-4, 6-0 in windy conditions at Castellaneta Marina before Schiavone fought back to beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Champion Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and Russian Vera Zvonareva completed crushing victories on Friday to set up a title clash in the final of the WTA event at Indian Wells. Top seed Ivanovic pummelled 17-year-old Russian Anastasia Pavyluchenkova 6-2, 6-3 in the evening semi-final after fourth-seeded Zvonareva had swept aside her doubles partner Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-3, 6-3.
The world number two was not invited by team captain Shamil Tarpishchev after she pulled out of last week's semi-final against the United States citing a shoulder injury.
The Russian Fed Cup team were hailed by the local media following their semi-final victory in the U.S. at the weekend, while the hosts were criticised for their choice of venue and the treatment of the visiting captain.
Also making it to the last eight were Svetlana Kuznetsova and Czech teenager Nicole Vaidisova.
Fancied fourth seed Andy Murray suffered a fair-and-square five-set defeat at the Australian Open after almost half Monday's field had reached the quarter-finals when their opponents retired injured or ill.
Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo suffered a surprise loss to unseeded Ukrainian Julia Vakulenko at the German Open on Friday, as world number one Justine Henin moved smoothly into the quarter-finals.
Unseeded Safarova will take on Russian Nadia Petrova, who beat holder Amelie Mauresmo of France in the other semi-final.
Hot favourites Russia will take on an under-strength France in the Fed Cup final after both nations completed 5-0 wins in the semis.
The world number two said she wants to concentrate on the 2005 season.
Former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova recovered from a slow start to beat Romanian teenager Sorana Cirstea 7-6, 6-1 to reach the third round of the U.S. Open on Wednesday.
A half-fit Sania Mirza and rookie Sunitha Rao tried every tricks in the book but still could not avert a defeat against top seeded Russian duo of Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina in the second round of the women's doubles tennis event of the Beijing Olympics on Wednesday night.
The Russian beat unseeded Katarina Srebotnik of Slovenia in the semi-finals of the Zurich Open.
Russia, last year's runners-up, were unable to call on world number six Maria Sharapova who was injured
Suarez and Ruano Pascual repeated their Australian Open victory over the Russians in January to win their third consecutive grand slam title.
Serbia's Ana Ivanovic staved off a stirring fightback from compatriot Jelena Jankovic set up a meeting with Dinara Safina in the French Open final. Safina beat fourth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the other semi-final.
The world number one who won the Dubai Open on Saturday is hot favourite to complete a Gulf double at the Qatar Open.
Holder Serena Williams beat Justine Henin 6-2, 6-0 to reach the semi-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open.
The Belgian advanced to the German Open semi-finals with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.
They beat wild cards Svetlana Kuznetsova and Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 6-4 in the first round at the Dubai Open.
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