Aye, Good Ladies! Welcome to Birmingham, England for the DFS Classic. Most of the top players will be performing here at the tuneup for Wimbledon. Will french open finalist and world number 1 Elena Dementieva win or will other players like Nik0ola Hofmanova and Sania Mirza come blasting with the title we will see.

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/global/photogallery/birmingham/f_10.jpghttp://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/global/photogallery/2006/birmingham/f_11a.jpghttp://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/global/photogallery/2006/birmingham/f_23.jpg

Draw:
http://v1.tournawiz.com/16draw.php?id=35&uid=kevinrulz91

Results:

Entry List:
1. Maria Kirilenko (Russia)
2. Vera Zvonareva (Russia)
3. Elena Dementieva (Russia)
4. Marion Bartoli (France)
5. Silvia Farina-Elia (Italy)
6. Yuliana Fedak (Ukraine)
7. Flavia Pennetta (Italy)
8. Jelena Jankovic (Serbia)
9. Urszula Radwanska (Poland)
10. Nikola Hofmanova (Austria)
11. Nathalie Dechy (France)
12. Elena Baltacha (Great Britain)
13. Na Li (China)
14. Venus Williams (United States)
15. Sania Mirza (India)
16. Julia Vakulenko (Ukraine)

Player of the Week
Martina Hingis


Article Whore of the week
Sania Mirza :worship:
Elena Baltacha :worship:
Venus Williams :worship:

re5

re6

Entry List from Commitment list is up!

points due at Saturday,November 24,2007 at Midnight NYC TIME

Draw Up
SEND POINTS!!!!!!!

results today?

yes
no more points will be accepted!

First Round:
Marion Bartoli def. (1)Elena Dementieva 7-5,6-3
Elena Baltacha def. (8)Flavia Pennetta 6-3,6-1
(6)Maria Kirilenko def. Yuliana Fedak 4-6,7-5,7-6(3)
Silvia Farina-Elia def. (4)Jelena Jankovic 7-5,4-6,7-6(5)
(3)Sania Mirza def. Vera Zvonaerva 1-6,6-3,6-3
Nathalie Dechy def. (7)Urszula Radwanska 7-6(1),3-6,6-4
(5)Venus Williams def. Na Li 6-2,7-5
(2)Nikola Hofmanova def. Julia Vakulenko 6-3,6-3

COME ON SANIA! :D
:bounce::woohoo::dance:

:haha:

Nathalie Dechy Won:)

:banana: :banana: :banana:

Radwanska :hug:

:tears:

:weirdo:

yet another 1st round loss:(

:woohoo: It must only be GS i cant do :tape:

Venus! :hug:
Take out Nikola for me. :lol:

points due at 8:00AM EST NYC TIME
that is in 14 hours.

for the 1st time both my players lost in 1st round :sad:

Well done Baltacha, good luck against Bartoli

BALTACHA ADVANCES TO SECOND ROUND

Great Britain's Elena Baltacha stormed through to the 2nd round of the DFS Classic after a convincing 6-3 6-1 win over Flavia Pennetta. The match was over in 57 minutes and Baltacha hit 14 winners and 6 unforced errors with 5 aces aswell. Baltacha told everyone at the French Open that Grass is her favourite surface and i think she proved it today against Pennetta, who is no pushover and is much higher ranked that Baltacha.

Baltacha talked to me just after the match. "I'm really pleased with that, i'm excited that we're on grass and the support from the home crowd is incredible. I'm so pleased that i've got another chance to impress in front of this crowd. I know Marion Bartoli will be tough but she's going to have beat me and the crowd. I'm going to give it my all and i hope i make the semi-finals."

So, Baltacha will next face Marion Bartoli who has performed well on clay this season. Good luck to both players but i hope Baltacha can storm through like she did today.

Venus through in Brimingham

http://championships.wimbledon.org/images/pics/large/b_08_vwilliams_050_thetimes_m_aspland.jpg

After taking the USA to Fed Cup glory last week, Venus Williams carried her on her good from with a comfortable straight sets victory over Chinas Na Li. It was all Venus in the first set as she wrapped it up comfortably 6-2 and then fought off a spritied comeback to take a 6-2 7-5 win in 97 minutes.

"Im very happy to have won today, Im off clay now and feel more relaxed. Im in good shape and enjoying the atmosphere in Britain and hope for some more good results. Hopefully this is just the start"

I have teh first 3 QF scored
I am watiing to see Venus will change her points or not

I am watiing to see Venus will change her points or not

waiting to here a reply to my PM...

results on the way

:scared: Id be really suprised to win this...

Singles Quarterfinals:

Elena Baltacha def. Marion Bartoli 7-6(6)*,6-4
(6)Maria Kirilenko def. Silvia Farina-Elia 7-5,6-2
(3)Sania Mirza def. Nathalie Dechy 4-6,6-3,7-6(5)
(5)Venus Williams def. (2)Nikola Hofmanova 1-6,6-1,7-5

*If Nikola and Venus didn't change points, Nikola would have won
*If Venus didn't change points, Venus would have won
*If Nikola didn't change points,Venus would have won

Well done Baltacha, lucky with the coin toss, good luck against Maria

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: Risk payed off :D

now against Best Friend! :D;)!

Congrats other winners, Elena B :yeah: Sania :bounce:

points due 7:30PM EST NYC TIME
that is in 7 hours,3 minutes

sorry for the time crunch

And i thought i was your best friend :lol: well done Venus, Sania and Maria

if you send new points, and you make the final. those will be the final points
sop either send one or two sets of points

Venus shocks Nikola - progresses into Semis

http://championships.wimbledon.org/images/pics/large/b_08_vwilliams_224_gettyimages_a_livesey.jpg

American Venus Williams enjoyed a powerful victory today in Birmingham to down the number 2 seed here Nikola Hofmanova. After a first set in which she was walked all over, Venus picked up her game brilliantly and won the second set 6-1 with her seventh ace. By far the best set was the final set where Venus showed her class and fighting spirit, saving a match point at 5-4 down to reel off a 1-6 6-1 7-5 victory to progress into the Semi Finals after three hours of hard play.

"I am so happy to have won today, Nikola is a great player and I had to play smart. She really went for it and just burned out at the end and that was the key today. I served well and played agressive so hopefully more of the same tommorow. There, I will play my best friend Sania. She has played two great matches so far and pulled out of a toughie today. She is such a fighter. Its going to be a great match and I hope we put on a real show for this great crowd"

Nathalie Dechy:(

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo: Risk payed off :D

now against Best Friend! :D;)!

Congrats other winners, Elena B :yeah: Sania :bounce:

Come on Sania! :bounce:

Venus!!! :woohoo:

rematch from Antwerp. :devil:

The 3 article whores into the semi-finals. It's always hard to decide whether to change points

Congrats to all winners! :worship: :worship: ;)
Loosers. :sad:

Sania Sails into Semis

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/FlamingoSpice/sannnnnn.jpg
It's all smiles for third-seeded Sania Mirza who defeated her quarterfinal opponent, Nathalie Dechy, to advance into the semi-finals where she'll meet her bestfriend on tour, Venus Williams.

India's Sania Mirza has definently become one of the tour's most consistant players by reaching her fourth consecutive semi-final in a tournament. At the beginning of the year we saw the youngster find herself after heartbreaking losses in finals at Antwerp and Miami. But since reaching the semi-finals of Berlin, she's been almost unstoppable, winning Rome, reaching the semi-finals of Roland Garros and now with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) win over France's Nathalie Dechy, she's into the semi-finals of Birmingham.

"It was a tiring match for sure. I had a couple chances where I screwed up oppertunities that could've ended the match sooner but I'm still happy that I won. I'm one of the most consistant players on the tour right now, hopefully that will propell me up in the rankings."

Mirza, who currently sits at number four in rankings, has a huge chance to pass up world number two, Serena Williams with a win here. Nikola Hofmanova, the world's number three will pass Williams next week due to the American's first round exit in Barcelona.

"Ultimitely, my goal is to be number one. I know it's going to take some time to get up with Elena [Dementieva], but I'm willing to wait for it. I definently will need a lot of help at Wimbledon."

In the semi-finals, Mirza will take on her bestfriend on tour, sixth-seeded Venus Williams. The last time the two met was in the finals of Antwerp in which Williams handed Mirza a heartbreaking loss. But a lot has changed since then and now Mirza is the favorite going into the semi-finals due to her recent uproar in matches. Whatever the outcome, this will definently be the match of the tournament.

"I wish this could the finals because I know it would be one of the best finals of the year. But there's no reason it can't be the best semi-final of the year. She's such a strong player, I need to attack everything she's got and I have to keep up with her. She's such a fighter so I'm going to need to get her down early. I wish her the best of luck and I'm definently going to be hunting for a bit of revenge for the Antwerp match."

Sania :worship:

points due in 4 hours, 47 minutes!

Singles Semifinals:
Elena Baltacha def. (6)Maria Kirilenko 7-5,7-5
(3)Sania Mirza def. (5)Venus Williams 6-3,0-6,6-0

COME ON SANIA!!!! :bounce::dance::woohoo::bowdown:

Vee.:hug:
stick around Vee, stay in my box for finals. :)

Singles Championship

Elena Baltacha vs. (3)Sania Mirza

http://www.hindu.com/2002/09/23/images/2002092301042001.jpg

(3)Sania Mirza def. Elena Baltacha 7-6(6)*,0-6,6-0

:bowdown: If Elena B sent new points, she would hve won this title. Sania was the ONLY player in Barcelona or Birmingham to send new points for the SF and F rounds. Congrats on your second title Sania :yeah:

Revenge is Sweet

In their semi-final showdown, Sania Mirza, the third-seeded player of the DFS Classic, defeated former rival, Venus Williams who was the sixth-seeded player of the tournament. The two women had a very topsy turvy match that lasted about an hour and fourty-two minutes. Mirza defeat Williams; 6-3, 0-6, 6-0 to advance into her fourth career final and her second final in her last three tournaments.

"I can't believe it! I was so happy that I won! Venus played a great match, and I'm glad that I saved enough in the end to come roaring back. It shows just how much of a fighter I am. Since I won, I'll be taking Venus out to dinner tonight." Mirza giggled.

Her finals opponent will be her article sparring partner, Britain's very own, Elena Baltacha who defeated Maria Kirilenko in straight sets; 7-5, 7-5. Baltacha who claims that grass is her favorite surface said that the next time she meets Mirza on the court she'll beat her. This statement came after Baltacha was manhandled at Roland Garros and lost 6-4, 6-0 to Mirza.

"She wants revenge, I'm not going to let her have it. I've beaten her once, I'll beat her again. I'm not scared of her, I'm ready for title number two!"

Come On Sania!!!!

:hearts: :bounce: :eek: :worship: :) :drool: :bowdown: :D :woohoo: :crazy:

Sania Slams Elena Again

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b241/FlamingoSpice/car.jpg
Sania Mirza stands with her new Hyundai which is part of the prize for the DFS Classic champion. Sania Mirza deated Elena Baltacha en route to the title.

Once again, India's Sania Mirza has proven that she's a force to reckon with. Elena Baltacha made a statement to Sania Mirza last week after her loss at Roland Garros that the next time the two meet, Mirza would loose, however, this was not the case. Once again the Indian sensation used her superior tennis skills to beat out Baltacha in the finals of the DFS Classic and win her second singles title in the past three weeks. Mirza defeated Baltacha in three sets; 7-6(6), 0-6, 6-0 to claim the first grass court tournament of the year.

"It was a much tougher match then she played at Roland Garros. I think that I deserved to win this title. I believe that I was the most consistant player of the tournament and that's why I won and that's why I continue to win matches. I put my heart into every tournament and that's why I've been doing so well lately."

With this win hear, Mirza has a huge chance to move up in the rankings. She will without be the world's new number three but it's unsure if this win here will have enough points to propell her up a career high ranking of number two. Nikola Hofmanova is a good canidate to become the world's second ranked player after the rankings for Barcelona and Birmingham are released.

"It's great that I moved up in rankings this week and I plan on continuing that trend. I'm so happy to win this title, it's the start of my journey to winning Wimbledon, and I'm glad I could start that journey with such a bang. We'll see what I can do next week."

congratz:)

BALTACHA BEATS KIRILENKO IN STRAIGHT SETS

Great Britain's Elena Baltacha is through to her 1st ProTour Final after beating Russia's Maria Kirilenko 7-5 7-5. It was a very tight match but Elena fought hard in both sets. In the 1st set, Baltacha was 5-2 down but she powered through the next 5 games with a storming forehand and a unreturnable serve.

In the 2nd Set, Baltacha continued her form and took a 5-0 lead and seemed set for an easy victory. But Kirilenko had other things on her mind and stormed back to 5-5 with some beautiful backhands up the line. Kirilenko powered into a 40-0 lead in the next game, however the crowd cheered as loud as they could for Baltacha and she dfidn't let them down by winning the next 9 points with 4 forehand winners, 2 aces, 2 smashes and 1 drop volley on match point.

Next up in the final for Baltacha is Sania Mirza, who thrashed Baltacha 6-4 6-0 in the quarter finals of the French Open. But Baltacha seems to be positive for the final, "After the french open, i've got nothing to lose in the final, all the pressure is on her. I'm just ecstatic to be in the final, i told you all that grass was my best surface and i never lie."

BALTACHA LOSES IN AMAZING FINAL

In one of the best finals of the season so far, Sania Mirza scraped past the home crowd favourite Elena Baltacha 7-6 0-6 6-0. The 1st set was the decisive set in the match and could've gone either way, there were no breaks of serve in the entire set. At 6-6 in the tie-break Mirza hit two amazing groundstroke winners to clinch the 1st set.

After the agonising 1st set loss, Baltacha never gave up and stormed through the 2nd set 6-0 and Mirza never had a chance as Elena sprayed forehand winners from corner to corner. At 1 set all, Baltacha took an injury timeout on her left thigh and Mirza took complete advantage of the injury hitting drop shot after drop shot.

In the end, the better woman won. But if Baltacha won the coin-toss in the 1st set, she would've won the DFS Classic. But you win some, you lose some.

congrats Sania :bounce: deserved title :D

happy with SF though :)