On the Baseline Tennis News

India’s most famous athlete has decided to skip the upcoming Bangalore Open amid mounting criticism and controversy.

Upon the advice of her manager, ATP Tour player Mahesh Bhupathi, Sania Mirza said on Monday that she will not enter India’s largest Sony Ericsson WTA Tour tournament.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams is expected to be the top seed in the upcoming week’s AIG Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.

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Sania Mirza continued her impressive form on Tuesday with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 upset of former world number one Martina Hingis at the East West Bank Classic.

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Sania Mirza defeated her doubles partner Shahar Peer in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 yesterday at the Acura Classic. (Mirza upsets 12th-seeded Peer in Carlsbad opener)

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According to Anne Worcester, the rumors of an extended hiatus by Amelie Mauresmo have been greatly exaggerated. (Questions surround sixth-ranked Mauresmo’s appearance at Pilot Pen)

Matches to Watch on Friday, June 29
(1) Justine Henin vs. Elena Vesnina
With most of the focus on Maria Sharapova and the Williams sisters, Justine Henin has been cruising under the radar to the third round. Her performance could hardly get any better, with only seven games dropped in her first two matches.

Weather permitting, Thursday’s action at Wimbledon will see Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo, Svetlana Kuznetsova competing, as well as Venus and Serena Williams’ first doubles match together since Wimbledon of 2004.

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All but one of the top nine seeds at the International Women’s Open have reached the quarterfinals. (Seeds Enjoy Themselves In Eastbourne)

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With British tennis struggling, Naomi Cavaday has been a breath of fresh air for fans at Birmingham. (Cavaday’s shock victory lifts the gloom for Britain)

Please go here if you would like to review the complete rankings for this week.
Who’s Up
Jelena Jankovic (3*/5) – Jankovic continues to race up the WTA Rankings and she is now sitting at a new career high of No. 3 in the world.

Serena Williams once again saw one of her matches delayed because of rain, but this time the former world number one will get another day to prepare for her second round match.
Inclement weather taunted the grounds of Roland Garros during most of Wednesday, but that did not stop Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, [...]

The arrival of Grand Slams often stimulate changes in a player’s life and not surprisingly, the slumping Sania Mirza has hired a new coach for Roland Garros.

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The city of Stowe in Vermont has been selected as the location for the USA’s Fed Cup semifinal against Russia in July. (Stowe will host USA-Russia Fed Cup semi)

May 14-20, 2007
Fes, Morocco
Tier IV
2006 Results: Meghann Shaughnessy d. (8) Martina Sucha 6-2 3-6 6-3
Total Prize Money: $145,000

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Twelfth seed Ana Ivanovic defeated third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) for the Tier I Qatar Telecom German Open title in Berlin yesterday. (Superb Ana sweeps to title)