REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won (SOUTH KOREA SPORT TENNIS)

The big news this weekend? Kimiko Date Krumm won the Korean Open, beating second-seeded Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain 6-3, 6-3.

Here are just a few reasons why this may be the most amazing comeback story in a year of amazing comeback stories:

1. At 39 years-old (on Monday) Date Krumm is the second oldest female player to ever win a singles title on tour. (Billie Jean King was 39 years, 7 months, 23 days when she won at Birmingham, England in 1983.)
2. This is her first title on the WTA tour since August of 1996, when she beat Spain’s Arantxa Sanchez Vicario at San Diego.
3. Date Krumm retired from professional tennis at the end of 1996. She returned last year, after nearly 12 years away from the game. Now that’s a real retirement!
4. Before this week’s Seoul tournament, Date Krumm hadn’t won a main draw singles match at the Tour Level since Monica Seles retired against her in the first round of the Year End Championships in November, 1996.

“Yeah, of course, very happy,” Date Krumm said after her big win. “I realized one more time after this game that we don’t know about tennis unless we actually play it.”

Tashkent Open final. (AP Photo/Anvar Ilyasov)

Shahar Peer also has her groove back, following up last week’s title win in Guangzhou, China with another one in Tashkent, Uzbekistan beating Akgul Amanmuradova in straight sets in the final. These are Peer’s fourth and fifth career titles, her last one coming over three years ago. She’s now gone 10 matches without dropping a set. After seeing her play some great tennis at the US Open this year (where she lost in the third round to Kuznetsova), I’m glad to see her building on her improving form and fitness. Keep an eye on her in 2010.

On the men’s side, Gael Monfils won the second title of his career this weekend in Metz, France, beating second seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6 3-6 6-2. His first title came in Sopot, Poland all the way back in 2005. Since then, he’s been in six finals and has lost all of them. That’s a nice streak to break.

In Bucharest, Spain’s Albert Montanes beat Juan Monaco for the last ATP clay court title of the season (and his second of the year): 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (8-6). By the way, do you know who has won the most matches on clay this year? Juan Monaco. (Click here for the stats) That would be impressive, except he hasn’t won a single title, clay court or otherwise, since 2007. Oh well, he can always look to Kimiko for inspiration.

This coming week the WTA sees Premier-level action in Tokyo at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. The ATP has two 250-level hard court tournaments, the PTT Thailand Open in Bangkok and Proton Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

Forget “It Must be Love,” the USTA’s old “Greatest Roadtrip in Sports” campaign has worked its way into my psyche. I really do picture the guys and gals driving the LA, Cincy, Montreal, circuit in an old Winnebago (except for Roger who swoops in via NetJets from a baby-friendly altitude. . .) Let’s pull over and take another look at the map.

DEPARTURES:

Week One

ATP in Indianapolis: Robby Ginepri beat Samurai Querrey in the finals of the Indianapolis Tennis Championships, the first gnarly pit stop on the road to the US Open.

Week Two

ATP in Los Angeles: Samurai Querrey beat Carsten Ball (you do know Carsten Ball, don’t you?) in the finals of the LA Tennis Open, Sam’s first title of the season in three tries. This tournament could have been just another pitstop, but I spent some quality time there – confirming that Marat Safin hates playing tennis (click here), that Pete Sampras needs more hobbies (click here) and that Stefan Edberg is still a dreamboat (click here.)

WTA in Stanford: Marion Bartoli beat Venus Williams in an epic three-set final. Sam Stosur beat Serena Williams in the quarters. Venus Williams destroyed Maria Sharapova and Elena Dementieva. I’d love to take some meaning out of the Bank of the West Classic, but the Williams sisters losing in anything that isn’t a Major is about as significant an occurrence as a mosquito splatting on a windshield.

Week Three

ATP in D.C.: We’re not in Kansas anymore – it was the Land of the Giants at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic with Dr. Ivo, John Isner, Sam Querrey, and Juan Martin Del Potro towering above the field. In the end, the 6′6″ Argentine even dwarfed Andy Roddick. But all of these beanstalk-limbed dudes wilt like buttercups in the heat – and it’s a long, hot haul to the finals in NYC.

WTA in Los Angeles: Did I take a wrong turn and end up in a therapist’s office? Zvonareva spilled about her recent come-back struggles (click here), Safina admitted to a hidden pain (here), and Ivanovic shared her self-help obsession (here). And of course, they all lost before the semis. Sharapova remains sharp mentally, but her body is on the “old wagon.” Sam Stosur is suffering from “finals-itis” – Sunday was her fifth final fail in five tries. Congrats to Flavia Pennetta for improving on her runner’s up showing last year. Splat.

ARRIVING: Week Four

ATP in Montreal: It’s Rafa and Roger together again at the Rogers Cup! (I’m as happy as a ten year old kid who finds out that she’s staying in a hotel with a pool AND a game room – however short the stay.) It will also be interesting to see how Murray and Djokovic are doing, considering they haven’t played competitive singles since Wimbledon.

Rogers Cup quarters (on-paper): Federer vs. Tsonga and Murray vs. Davydenko on the top half (this will be Roger’s first tournament back at the top of the draw) and Roddick vs. Djokovic and del Potro vs. Nadal in the bottom.

WTA in Cincinnati: Kim Clijsters is back! (And the tournament directors definitely don’t fix the draws – she gets Marion Bartoli in her first round.) I feel all warm and fuzzy – like we’re taking a side-trip to see a rarely seen but much-loved Auntie (that would be Kim, Marion is more of the kooky, slightly unhinged, Auntie.)

Cincy quarters (on-paper): Safina vs. Kuznetsova and Williams vs. Zvonareva in the top half and Wozniacki vs. Dementieva and Jankovic vs. Serena in the bottom. Will we get that battle of the Real No. 1s before the US Open? Methinks not.

Unfortunately for US residents, we’re not getting TV coverage of either Montreal or Cincy until later in the week **Update – Tennis Channel has added Tuesday and Wednesday coverage in Montreal!** (click here for the combined tv schedule.)

TennisTV is offering legit live streaming (click here) and we’ll keep an eye out for some boot-legged feeds.

Legg Mason Tennis Classic has a strong field of guys including Andy Roddick, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Tommy Haas, Juan Martin Del-Potro, Tommy Robredo, and more.

* All times are Eastern

Fri. 8/7
12:00 – 2:00 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic ESPN2
2:30 – 4:30 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic Tennis Channel
7:00 – 9:00 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic ESPN2

Sat. 8/8
3:00 – 5:00 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic Tennis Channel
7:00 – 9:00 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic ESPN2

Sun. 8/9
3:00 – 5:00 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic ESPN2
8:00 – 9:30 pm Legg Mason Tennis Classic Tennis Channel

Legg Mason Tennis Classic site

What is this U.S. Open Series and why should any of us care about it? We’re in the dog days of the tennis season – some of us are still recovering from the French Open drama and celebrating Federer’s 15. And now we’re supposed to get pumped up about the Sam Querrey vs. Robby Ginepri final in Indianapolis this weekend?

Yes! Yes, we are!

Take a look at last year. Two of this season’s top performers, Juan Martin del Potro and Dinara Safina, both won two Series tournaments in ‘08. Andy Murray, last year’s U.S. Open runner up, also won his first ever Masters title last year in Cincy. Instead of “It Must Be Love” the USTA’s tagline could be “Fresh Blood.”

The U.S. Open Series will also provide answers to some intriguing questions. Here are my Top 10 U.S. Open Series Mysteries:

1. How are Rafael Nadal’s knees, really?

2. How long will Roger Federer be on paternity leave? If he does play, will he be refreshed and relaxed or distracted and sleepy? (Speaking of Roger, click here for a run down of his US Open Series success – thanks, GTT reader, for the tip!)

3. Maria Sharapova said recently that she’s “100 percent.” Is that World Team Tennis fit or Grand Slam Champion fit?

4. With Serena Williams and Dinara Safina both playing in Cincinnati and Toronto this year, the “Battle of the Real No. 1s” is still in high gear. Will Dinara continue to dominate the smaller tournaments while Serena goes home with the big prize?

5. Will Ana, Jelena and Novak finally pull out of their Serbian Slump?

6. Kim Clijsters’ comeback – will she embarrass the field, or herself?

7. Was the Wimbledon final Andy Roddick’s last stand or a new beginning?

8. Who will be the next best American on the men’s side?

9. Will Marat Safin squeeze anything positive out of his last months on tour?

10. Who among the WTA young guns – Wozniacki, Lisicki and/or Azarenka - will be a contender in NYC?

Now that you’re dying to watch, here’s a run down of the U.S. Open Series schedule (click here for the television schedule):

July 27 – August 2:

ATP: LA Tennis Open at UCLA
Top players: Tommy Haas, Mardy Fish and  Marat Safin.
2008 Champ: Juan Martin del Potro

WTA: Bank of the West Classic at Stanford
Top players: Venus and Serena, Maria Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic
2008 Champ: Aleksandra Wozniak

August 3 – 9

ATP: Legg Mason Tennis Classic, Washington DC
Top players: Andy Roddick, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Juan Martin del Potro
2008 Champ: Juan Martin del Potro

WTA: LA Women’s Tennis Championships, Los Angeles
Top seeds:  Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic
2008 Champ: Dinara Safina

August 10 – 16

ATP: Rogers Masters, Montreal
Top players: They’re all there – except maybe Roger. . .
2008 Champ: Rafael Nadal

WTA: Western & Southern Financial Group Women’s Open, Cincinnati
Top players: Almost all the top players + Kim Clijsters (not sure about Sharapova)
2008 Champ: Nadia Petrova

August 17 – 23

ATP: Western & Southern Financial Group Masters, Cincinnati
Top players: They’re all supposed to be there.
2008 Champ: Andy Murray

WTA: Rogers Cup, Toronto
Top players: EVERYBODY – including Clijsters and Sharapova
2008 Champ: Dinara Safina

August 23 – 29

ATP/WTA: Pilot Pen Tennis
Top Players: Simon/Ferrer/Dent and Wozniacki/Mauresmo/Cibulkova
2008 champs: Marin Cilic & Caroline Wozniacki

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images via usopenseries.com.

Eight teams remain in contention to win the Davis Cup for their countries. They will battle each other in various (mostly European) cities this weekend – July 10 – 12.

Only a sport as crazy as tennis would schedule the quarterfinals of its premier team event the weekend after its premier tournament. Roddick, Ferrer, Nadal and Tursunov have pulled out with injury, and Marat Safin claims a lot of the remaining players are hurting (or else he’s playing possum). But it’s cute men in matching tracksuits, so at least they’re looking good!

Here are the basics, including the necessary (Marat Safin) photos and quotes.

CZECH REPUBLIC v ARGENTINA

Venue: Cez Arena, Ostrava (hard – indoors)

“We’re here to avenge the beating.” – Tomas Berdych via CBS, on losing 0-5 to the Argentines when they last met in D.C.

Team Czech Republic: Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Ivo Minar, Lukas Dlouhy/Captain: Jaroslav Navratil

Team Argentina: Juan Martin Del Potro, Jose Acasuso, Leonardo Mayer, Juan Monaco/Captain: Tito Vazquez

CROATIA v USA

Venue: Sportska Dvorana “Zatika”, Porec (clay – indoors)

“Andy has been a stalwart for this team the past nine years, and his dedication to Davis Cup and his teammates is unquestioned.” – Captain Patrick McEnroe via CBS.

“It’s worse for us (than if Andy played.) Instead of an injured Roddick, who after such a final at Wimbledon would have had to play matches on clay, we’ll have to face a motivated Fish.” – Captain Goran Prpic via CBS.

Team Croatia: Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Roko Karanusic, Lovro Zovko/Captain: Goran Prpic

Team USA: Mardy Fish (replaced Andy Roddick), James Blake, Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan/Captain: Patrick McEnroe

(That’s Patrick McEnroe pretending to return Dr. Ivo’s serve.)

ISRAEL v RUSSIA

Venue: Sport Palaces Ltd (Nokia), Tel Aviv (hard – indoors)

“Not one of us is in shape, save for Igor (Andreev) – there’s nothing to hide about it. . .I hope we’ll be okay.” – Marat Safin via Haaretz

Team Israel: Dudi Sela, Haral Levy, Jonathan Erlich, Andy Ram/Captain: Eyal Ran

Team Russia: Igor Kunitsyn (replaced Dmitry Tursunov), Marat Safin, Igor Andreev, Mikhail Youzhny/Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

(Don’t worry, there’s plenty more Marat in the photo gallery, below! This may be his last time in a tracksuit, before he gets a Shamil-style belly and becomes DC captain in 2029. Sob!)

SPAIN v GERMANY

Venue: Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella (clay – outdoors)

“Nadal is not well and we have to let him rest.” Albert Costa via CBC

Team Spain: Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero (replaced David Ferrer), Feliciano Lopez/Captain: Albert Costa

Team Germany: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Kiefer, Mischa Zverev, Andreas Beck/Captain: Patrick Kuhnen

(What does Philipp know that we don’t?)

Click here for the Davis Cup website.

 

All gallery photos via Daylife.

Team USA Tracksuits photo by REUTERS/Nikola Solic (CROATIA SPORT TENNIS)

Patrick McEnroe gets goosed. REUTERS/Nikola Solic (CROATIA SPORT TENNIS)

Team Russian Tracksuits photo by AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Marat Safin stands alone in hotness photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images

Team Spain photo by REUTERS/Jon Nazca (SPAIN SPORT TENNIS)

Philipp Kohlschreiber remembers Roland Garros. REUTERS/Jon Nazca (SPAIN SPORT TENNIS)

* All times ET.

Friday, July 10
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel - LIVE
8:00 pm – 2:00 am Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – REPEAT

Saturday, July 11
9:30 am – 12:30 pm Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – LIVE
12:30 pm – 3:30 pm Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – REPEAT
8:00 pm – 11:00 pm Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – REPEAT
11:00 pm – 2:00 am Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – REPEAT

Sunday, July 12
10:00 am – 4:00 pm Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – LIVE
8:00 pm – 2:00 am Davis Cup (M): United States vs. Croatia Tennis Channel – REPEAT

via Tennis.com

The final Friday at Wimbledon. The Gentlemen’s Semifinals. Yep, this is the stuff.

First up we have the Grass Court King vs. a resurgent veteran who is playing the tennis of his life (see Federer vs. Haas, Rd. of 16, 2009 Roland Garros.) Head to head: 9-2, Roger. I’m not picking a winner due to extreme Fedophiliac tendencies.

Then we have the Andys. One Roddick, one Murray. One American, one Scottish. One can serve. One can serve and return. Both hired and fired Brad Gilbert. Both have girlfriends with Rapunzel hair and Ray Bans. Etc. Etc. Head to head: 6-2, Murray. (That’s the same head to head he has over Fed. . .spooky!) Winner: Andy.

Here’s the schedule:

Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Semifinals Schedule

All times BST

Centre Court, 1:00 pm:
(24) Tommy Haas v (2) Roger Federer
(6) Andy Roddick  v (3) Andy Murray

Who are you cheering for?

Re: U.S.A. television coverage. As far as I can tell, ESPN2 will show Haas vs. Fed LIVE in all time zones – the match starts at 8am ET. NBC will go on at noon (”in all time zones.”)  I have no idea what will happen if (when?) the Fed vs. Haas match wraps up before NBC’s broadcast window begins. I’m assuming Roddick vs. Haas will be held “hostage” until noon and shown on tape delay if necessary while ESPN2 shows doubles, replays of old matches or a Fowler vs. Gilbert smackdown. (West Coasters – we’re screwed.)  I suggest you check out NBC’s live stream at http://wimbledonlive.nbcsports.com if at any point you are writhing in agony in front of the set, wondering where the live tennis went.

If you need to vent, click here and here.

We’re mad as hell, aren’t we American tennis fans? NBC’s tape delayed “protections” have ruined the second week of Wimbledon – slicing and dicing the coverage in a thoroughly discombobulating matter. And you East Coasters have it good – on the West Coast, we’re stuck with a three hour window between 7am and 10am when there is no tennis on at all!

Yes, we can visit the livestreams. But is looking at a blurry, buffered, postage-stamp-sized simulacrum of Wimbledon’s hallowed Centre Court really an acceptable alternative, especially when big networks like ESPN and NBC are there, at Wimbledon, burning through money and resources to supposedly broadcast tennis in diamond-sharp HD?

Yes, it’s just us, the disenfranchised tennis fans, against Big Media and millions of dollars worth of broadcast rights. But we need to do what we can! Tennis fans, unite!

FIGHT BACK AGAINST NBC’s WIMBLEDON TAPE DELAY:

Option 1: Send a message to the All England Club, which sells broadcast rights and can dictate conditions to networks. Click here for Wimbledon’s TV broadcast feedback form.

Option 2: Email NBC a withering critique.

DICK EBERSOL, CHAIRMAN OF NBC SPORTS: Dick.Ebersol@nbcuni.com

NBC SPORTS: nbcsportshelp@nbcuni.com

Option 3: Sign the online petition

Option 4: If you have any better options than those above, let us know!

Word to the wise – keep your feedback civil and constructive and it will be taken more seriously. I’ve included some great examples of mainstream tennis fan outrage below.

The New York Times reads NBC the riot act:

If NBC Sports can’t carry Wimbledon matches live, especially crucial ones, it shouldn’t carry Wimbledon at all. The network’s tape-delay dance — and its excuses — have grown tired. . .

We’ve heard for years NBC’s reasons for tape-delaying Wimbledon and the French Open: its allergy to pre-empting the “Today” show on weekday mornings and past difficulties in pre-empting Saturday morning kiddie programming or Sunday morning religious shows. It’s become so much yadda yadda yadda. I’m sure that NBC knew that those majors were played in Europe when it signed those deals. And I’m sure that it’s 2009 — technology keeps changing, and fans have little or no tolerance for sports events not shown live.

NBC’s license to tape-delay matches dates to old contracts the All England Club should have changed long ago. Now, the club must require significant change. No fan should have to care that NBC’s arrangements, in its world, or with ESPN, mitigate against live match broadcasts. (click here for the full article.)

NBC’s lame explanation via Sports Business Daily:

NBC gets to choose one match to show in their window. The broadcaster chose the Federer-Ivo Karlovic match, even though it could not be aired live. “We’re following history,” said an NBC spokesperson, referencing Federer going for his record 15th Grand Slam title.

Yeah, NBC is  “following” history alright – following by about 2-3 hours. This isn’t the stone age (i.e. pre-internet.) Sports fans demand and deserve LIVE COVERAGE. Tennis fans should not be treated like children at Christmas (”No peeking!”)

My favorite line comes from an article on Yahoo! Sports: “No wonder the network makes great decisions like dumping Leno for Conan and spending $10 million for one episode of ‘Kings.”

Word. (Except for the Conan thing – love him!)

In closing, I’ll say one kind word about NBC – it got last year’s final right. It’s  disappointing that NBC has squandered all of that goodwill and excitement – this was the opportunity to grow the game and the audience, not confound it.

“New Yorkers love it when you spill your guts out there. You spill your guts out at Wimbledon, and they make you stop and clean it up.” – Jimmy Connors.

It’s gut-check time for Roger Federer and the rest of Wimbledon’s “Gentlemen” as they battle it out in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Who’s bringing their mop and bucket to the court? Here’s the schedule:

WIMBLEDON: MEN’S QUARTERFINALS SCHEDULE
times BST (seedings in brackets)

Centre Court – 1:00 p.m.
Ivo Karlovic (22) vs. Roger Federer (2)
Andy Murray (3) vs. Juan Carlos Ferrero

No. 1 Court – 1:00 p.m.
Tommy Haas (24) vs. Novak Djokovic (4)
Lleyton Hewitt vs. Andy Roddick (6)

Karlovic vs. Federer: The head to head is 8-1, Federer, with Roger’s sole loss coming in Cincinnati in 2008. Roger’s beaten Ivo twice this year – in Indian Wells and Rome. They’ve met once on grass – at Wimbledon, 2004, with Roger winning in straights (two tiebreaks.) This is the Croatian’s first Major quarterfinals appearance. But before Fed Fans get too comfortable, consider the fact that the big serving Croat has not been broken this tournament (Roger’s been broken three times) and has served 137 aces (Roger’s served 59.)

Dr. Ivo also has a new mojo-rific, “spank that ace” victory dance. Horrifying:
Winner: I’m WAY too superstitious. The one time I picked Fed to win at GTT, he lost to Djokovic (Roger’s Cup, 2007). But if I see Dr. Ivo dancing like this on court tomorrow, I’ll need my own mop and bucket.

Murray vs. Ferrero. Head-to-head is 1-0, Murray, with their single meeting coming on grass a couple weeks ago in the Queen’s Club semis. Murray steamrolled the Spaniard 6-2, 6-4. Will Ferrero – an elderly (29 year-old) wildcard ranked 70 in the world – be Wimbledon’s answer to Robin Soderling? Or this year’s version of Goran Ivanisevic (the wildcard who broke British hearts by beating Tim Henman in the 2001 Wimbledon semis?) Um. . .only if Andy got a bad sunburn in training today:

Winner: AHN-day Murrr-AY! (I love saying it that way!)

Haas vs. Djokovic. Ooh! This is an attractive proposition! The head-to-head is 2-1 in Nole’s favor, but Haas just beat him in the finals of Halle, a grass court tune-up. Tommy is the oldest guy still left in the draw (31), played this year’s longest match at Wimbledon (4.5 hours against Cilic), and will probably catch the Swine Flu before the match (no joke – click here.). Then again, Novak could retire with ear cramps if the weather stays hot. So let’s just pop some popcorn, hope they’re both healthy and enjoy the drama! Winner: Djokovic

Lleyton Hewitt vs. Andy Roddick: Flashback to the early 2000s! This will be the 12th meeting of these former No. 1s, in a history that’s spanned from the 2001 Miami Masters to a couple weeks ago in the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club (which Andy won.) Hewitt holds the slight edge in their 6-5 head-to-head, but I defy even the most sadistic of Tennis Gods to squelch the much-anticipated Andy vs. Andy semifinal. Winner: AN-deee RAH-dick (nope, American just ain’t as fun as Scottish.)

How about you, seeing any bumps (or fevers, or obscene dancing) ahead?

Tuesday is ladies’ day at the All England Club, with all four singles quarterfinal matches in contention.

WIMBLEDON: LADIES’ QUARTERFINALS SCHEDULE

times BST (Seedings in brackets)

Centre Court (1pm):

(1) Dinara Safina v Sabine Lisicki
(8) Victoria Azarenka v (2) Serena Williams

No. 1 Court (1pm):

(3) Venus Williams  v (11) Agnieszka Radwanska
Francesca Schiavone v (4) Elena Dementieva

(Click here for the full Tuesday schedule.)

I’m so excited about these match-ups that I’m going to attempt making predictions, something I usually loathe. But I’m feeling it this time – I don’t care if I look like a fool:

Safina v. Lisicki: Surprisingly, Lisicki has won their only meeting – in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open when she was ranked 194 and Dinara was 16. That win and a positive attitude should give the German the advantage in this battle of the big hitters. Winner: Lisicki

Azarenka vs. Serena: The head to head is 1-2, Williams, with Azarenka’s win coming in Miami against a crippled opponent. At the very least, I’m predicting a tougher match than usual for Serena, but ultimately I can’t bet against a Williams on a Mission. Winner: Serena

Venus vs. Radwanska: The head to head is 3-1, Venus, with Radwanska winning their first meeting way back in 2006. Once again, I’m going with the Williams on a Mission prediction. Winner: Venus

Schiavone vs. Dementieva: This is a real pick ‘em! Their head to head is tied 4-4, with Elena winning their last meeting in Dubai in 2008 (in three sets.) But Schiavone is the great Russian destroyer, almost single-handedly defeating the Dementieva-free Russian squad this April. So I’m going for the upset here, with the wily Italian squeaking through in three. Winner: Schiavone

Are you feeling the upset bug?