The tournament best known for Monica's stabbing has a stellar quarterfinal lineup, despite going with out Monica (for obvious reasons), Capriati, Kournikova (needing just wins now, baby) or Serena (because Venus is here). For a Tier II, could you ask for better matchups?

Venus Williams v. Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario. If this weren't on clay, I'd be frightened for the Spaniard. But after successive wins against Adriana Serra Zanetti (a demolition job) and in a third-set tiebreak against recent Budapest winner Muller, and given the fact that the last time the two met on clay (2000 French Open), ASV won in three, this could be interesting. But if Venus loses this match, she loses the #1 ranking. If she wins it, she keeps the ranking.

Martina Hingis v. Daniela Hantuchova. Rematch of Indian Wells, and we all know what happened there. But this is clay. And Martina HATES losing twice in a row to the same person. Hantuchova had mixed results in Fed Cup, while Hingis avoided FC altogether. The winner would meet Venus (or ASV).

On the bottom half, you've got the mercurial Dokic, a winner in three sets over Conchita Martinez today, against the had-a-rough-time-but-seems-to-be-better-now Justine Henin. These two have, shockingly, only met once - in the Amelia Island semis where Dokic retired down a set and 4-1 in the second. Both should be healthy and up for this matchup. Dokic especially has points to defend. Exciting stuff for the two rising stars. Both are strong on clay.

Finally, it's Schett v. Clijsters. Schett skipped Fed Cup (thereby dooming Austria's chances against the US. Oh wait. Nevermind.) to prepare for this tournament, and she was fortunate not to have to face Schnyder, who disappointingly lost in the first round to qualifier Anca Barna. Clijsters should have a significant advantage here, given that Schett's had a lousy year. But Clijsters has had injury problems, and Schett seems to want to focus on getting back into form.

My humble predictions are Venus to meet Hingis in the semis, and Henin to face Clijsters - basically, for the seeds to hold. Then I will curse the world for keeping these matches off TV. Then I will pick Hingis to meet Henin for the first time since 2000, and for Henin to overcome all doubters, win the tournament, establish herself as a legitimate favorite for the French, and get back to the Top 5.

Hey, it could happen.

It is a great draw. I'm inclined to agree with you on the top seeds holding, though Dokic-Henin and Hingis-Hantuchova should be very interesting. Hantuchova appears to have found her game on clay at this tournament after struggling.

The semis will also be interesting with Venus & Hingis not having played in over a year. With Venus on her weakest surface and not having shown her best tennis much this year, Hingis has a chance. This is her opportunity to show that she's still a contender for the french. I'd love to see a Henin-Hingis final (I'd expect some very pretty tennis), but Henin seems to have problems playing Clijsters.

Well, there you go. Henin, down 1-5 in the first set, takes it to a tie break, which she proceeds to lose 7-3. Then, down a break at 5-6 in the second set, two points from losing the match, breaks back to get to a second set tie break, which she promptly loses 7-3.

Is her confidence going to be able to hold up after these tough losses? She's still only won four small tournaments, despite being a fixture in the Top 10. She certainly is a popular player - it would be great to see her break through sometime soon.

But not today.

Venus lost the first set, but then went on to beat ASV. Next up will be Hingis, who beat Hantuchova in two close sets. It's the resumption (after more than a year's rest) of the greatest rivalry in women's tennis today. Hingis owns a 10-8 edge, but naturally most of those wins were early on. Venus has won 5 of the last 7, but I honestly think you have to give Hingis the slight edge here. Venus has the mental edge, but Hingis is more comfortable on clay and REALLY wants to get back to being considered a contender. Will they show the semifinal? NO! Instead, the final will be on Oxygen on Sunday 5-7 Eastern.

The other semi, Dokic v. Clijsters, give us two players who are really evenly matched. They're within two months of each other, age wise, both have an Australia connection (Clijsters is considering moving there, Dokic never wants to go back), both have won and they've both won 119 matches in their career (Clijsters has fewer losses). They're 2-2 against each other, having never met on clay. Clijsters has more titles, but Dokic has two Tier I's. Both have had injury problems this year. The edge would seem to go to Clijsters, but you've gotta respect Jelena's job against Justine.

Could be a couple of barn-burners.

New prediction - Hingis wins the title over Kim Clijsters.

Venus has defeated Hingis in the first semi. The score: V. Williams d. Hingis, 7-5, 6-3

A Venus vs. Kim Clijsters final would be very compelling. I don't think Jelena Dokic could really take it to Venus in the final. Clijsters, however, could provide a very entertaining challenge.

Venus and Kim have only met once, and that match was played on hardcourts. Venus won. I think clay equalizes their games a bit... So, I hope Clijsters makes the final, cuz I think it could go the distance.

Dokic retired from her match with a thigh or hip strain. I forget which. Clijsters was leading 6-4 4-4 at the time.

Venus has now beaten two of the best clay courters this year (and also ASV). Tomorrow's results should be interesting.

As a side note, the Betty Barclay Cup is in trouble because there are no television contracts. Interest has waned since Graf and Becker retired.

i'm a little surprised Venus beat Hingis in straight sets....has anyone retired from matches as often as Dokic has? cljisters and venus on clay should be quite entertaining..


I just read in Inside Tennis (delivered this past week) that in the last twelve months (pre-april) that Seles was the only player to have beaten Hingis, Capriati, Venus and Serena! I think Serena has now joined her in that feat but as long careers go, that's pretty damn impressive!

I think (with all due respect to Monica) that Serena has surpassed that feat by beating Hingis, Venus, and Capriati consecutively, in straight sets, in the same tournament.

Apparently both Venus and Hingis were having trouble with their games today and though there were some nice shots, service holds were atrocious. On the other hand, Venus is injured.

I think that Venus/Clijsters on clay will be something like Capriati/Clijsters on clay. Lots of errors, but a pretty tough match. On the other hand, while Clijsters is no pushover, by her own admission at the US Open last year she's never played anyone as strong or as fast as Venus.

Still, whatever the result tomorrow, it's pretty incredible to consider that Venus is currently playing the most consistantly of any player on the clay courts. I think the French is an obsession for her this year.

When isn't Venus injured?

I think she is an amazing player, but there is always an injury, not matter what...

TV alert -- the final will be shown (tape delayed) on Oxygen this afternoon. I think at 4 or 5 EDT.

SPOILER...(final result)

Clijsters d. V. Williams, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
The story from Yahoo!: http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news/ap/200205...ap-hamburg.html

I'm not surprised by this result, really. Clay favors Kim's game. My only mild concern with Venus's loss here is that she doesn't usually lose finals, and that she didn't defend her title. Still, this is an OUSTANDING win from Kim, who played well throughout the tournament and who is emerging into quite a champion. And it's not a bad loss for Venus, whose worst surface is clay.

Well, it does happen. It was truly was an excellent win for Kim who has never beaten a Williams sister before.

Still, despite everything, Venus played a great tournament and beat the best clay court player in the world (even though Hingis has yet to win the French, she is still is the best clay courter) on red clay. Like I said about Serena, it's a good chance for Venus, the loss may be a good thing in that it will show her where her game needs work. I still won't count her out for the French. But Clijsters is a definite favorite.

I think Cljisters has been building to a big win over a big babe in a final for quite some time. She's better than she was last year when she got to the final of the French so she has to be considered a top contender. This is a huge win for Kim since Venus is virtually undefeated in finals over the last several months. I definitely don't think JenCap will be defending her french open title; there's too many girls, who'll make it to the semi's, this year who can beat her....

Big win for Kim--I wasn't sure how seriously to take her for the French, given the injury problems this year, but it looks like she's got it together again. She has the big groundstrokes and tenacity to be a contender, and even flashed some tactical flare at the French last year. Venus is playing well (though I think people are overrating Hingis on clay and underrating her on hardcourts). She's capable of winning the French, but she's going to have to play very clean, patient tennis against three tough opponents to do it. Although the loss to Schnyder was worrysome, I wouldn't rule out a Cap repeat yet either--she seems to play better at the slams, and may get more comfortable on clay as the season progresses.