Bethanie Mattek-Sands had Kim Clijsters on the ropes at 6-4, 1-4 before the Belgian former Rogers Cup Champion could turn the tide in Montreal.

For the rest of the year, keep an eye out for France’s newest best player, 5’ 6” dynamo, Aravane Rezai, who increased her stock by winning the Collector Swedish Open Women on Sunday.

Vera Zvonareva defeated 82 ranked Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in three exciting semifinal sets, but when the dust settled, Ms. Pironkova had won the hearts of all who watched.

The tour players were exhilarated to meet the queen and after their curtsies went about creating some very regal performances of their own.

For the most part, the seeds have protected their Birmingham turf except for one blonde American upstart’s dismissal of 3rd seeded Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.

Maria, Maria, Maria! Welcome back! The Russian photo op is showing signs of recovery. On Thursday, the second seed notched not one but two wins to make the quarterfinals.

Rezai reached her highest ranking of sixteen prior to the French Open and on the heels of her impressive win at the Madrid Open.

Action is sure to heat up now that Rafa Nadal, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick have led the field through the rain and into the Round of Sixteen at Eastbourne.

Francesca Schiavone brought her A game out against Caroline Wozniacki and Elena Dementieva overcame powerful Russian Nadia Petrova to seal semifinal berths at Roland Garros.

In Madrid final, Aravane Rezai has too much firepower for Venus Williams.