Serena Continues Dominance, Pavlyuchenkova Loves Monterrey

While the men were scattered around the world playing Davis Cup, some of the women switched to clay.  But Serena Williams continued her tour domination as she won another title in Charleston.  And Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova continued a different kind of confidence by winning a third title in Monterrey (on hard courts) running her record there to 15-0.

Good Stories
-The American women bouncing back in a big way, especially in Charleston, where 9 different women won matches with 8 of their 12 losses came to compatriots.
-Stephanie Voegele (SUI) has been in good form recently, but really excelled in Charleston, with a semi appearance and wins over Suarez Navarro, Goerges, and Wozniacki.
-Eugenie Bouchard (CAN), a rising young player, #4 among players born in '92, reached the quarters in Charleston, with wins over Robson and an injured Stosur.
-Coco Vandeweghe (USA) beat Bartoli in the first round of Monterrey before losing to her compatriot Davis.
-The Croatian Fed Cup team of Vekic and Mrdeza continuing to rise up the rankings, and both won a match in Monterrey.

Bad Stories
-Sloane Stephens (USA) going out in her first match in Charleston as the 4th seed.
-Andrea Petkovic (GER) having to pull out of her scheduled match with Wozniacki.  Hopefully this isn't a serious injury.
-Julia Cohen (USA) continuing to struggle in WTA events, losing in the first round here in Monterrey.

WTA Premier: Charleston, SC, United States
1) Serena Williams (USA) def. 9) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 3-6 6-0 6-2
-Serena wins 49th career title, 3rd of 2013, last '13 Miami
-It is her 4th title in Charleston ('03,'08,'12)
Defending champion: Serena Williams (USA) - defended title
Quarterfinalists: 5) Venus Williams (USA)-SF, 6) Lucie Safarova (CZE), 12) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN), Stephanie Voegele (SUI)-SF, Madison Keys (USA), Q) Eugenie Bouchard (CAN)
Players reaching QF in '12 and '13: Serena, Venus, Safarova

Locals performance: 21-13, a great peformance by most - Serena wins, Venus made SF, Keys made QF, 12-Lepchenko, Mattek-Sands, q-Burdette, and q-Pegula made the 4th round, while q-Min and q-King each won matches.  Only McHale (l. to Mattek-Sands), Oudin, Hampton, and Townsend lost thier first match.

Americans performance: see above
Other notable winners: 19-yr-old Monica Puig (PUR), #5 among players born in '93, adding to the American success with a win over Hlavackova before she lost to Venus.

Third set tiebreaks: Mattek-Sands def. An.Rodionova (R1), Soler Espinosa def. Schiavone (R1) 8-6

WTA International: Monterrey, Mexico

5) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) def. 1) Angelique Kerber (GER)

-Pavlyuchenkova wins 4th career title, last '11 Monterrey
-Three of her titles have come in Monterrey ('10,'11)

Defending champion: Timea Babos (HUN) - QF l. to Niculescu

Quarterfinalists: 3) Maria Kirilenko (RUS)-SF, 7) Urszula Radwanska (POL), 8) Ayumi Morita (JPN), Monica Niculescu (ROU)-SF, Timea Babos (HUN), Lauren Davis (USA)

Players reaching QF in '12 and '13: none

Locals performance: 0-2, losses for Hermoso and Sanchez

Americans performance: 3-5, a win for Vandeweghe (over Bartoli) but then she lost to Davis. Cohen, Sanchez, and q-Crawford lost their first matches.
Other notable winners: 19-yr-old Jovana Jaksic (SRB), ranked no. 356, qualifying and beating Dushevina before losing to Kirilenko.

Third set tiebreaks: Babos def. Garcia Vidagany (R1), Ormaechea def. Schiavone (R2), Jankovic def. Knapp (SF)