Russia’s newest sensation was in top form on Wednesday and top seed Jelena Jankovic paid the price.

At the Mercury Insurance Open in San Diego, the Round of Sixteen play begins today as two Russians, Vera Zvonareva and Svetlana Kuznetsova, battled to victory on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Australian Samantha Stosur showed why she is the top seed but little Melanie Oudin won the crowd’s hearts with her stirring comeback.

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.

Former number ones Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin joined second seed Venus Williams in the third round on Wednesday.

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.

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

Whatever Jalena Jankovic is eating, the former number one Serb should stick with the diet. There’s a little more bounce in her game and oodles of confidence to go along with her resurgent play. The 2010 Indian Wells Champion has brought her new attitude to Miami and the 7 seed is moving smoothly through the field.

Quietly and serenely Venus Williams is cruising through 2010. She continued her 11-match win streak Thursday in the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami rolling smoothly through game Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-3 in an efficient 78 minutes.

After a disappointing performance at Indian Wells, the top three Belgian women look poised to make a move at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Yanina Wickmayer (12), Kim Clijsters (14) and Justine Henin cannot be happy after rusty outings last week.