Week #40: Jankovic wins in Stuttgart and gets #1

Serbian Jelena Jankovic got in Stuttgart her second consecutive title after her victory in Beijing last week, which also meant her return to WTA top place in the rankings. Jankovic had to suffer to defeat Vera Zvonareva in the quarters and Venus Williams in the semifinal, but the final was easier as she defeated Nadia Petrova by 6/4 6/3. Petrova seems to be recovering the level that took her to Top 5, although she didn't had to face any seeded player on her way to the final. Young Victoria Azarenka signed a remarkable performance reaching the semifinalst upsetting 8th seed Agnieszka Radwanska and 3rd seed Elena Dementieva on her way, while 1st seed Serena Williams suffered physical problems and was defeated by Chinese Na Li in the 2nd round.

In Tokyo, Danish teen Caroline Wozniacki added another title to her fantastic season after defeating in a 3-set final rising Estonian Kaia Kanepi. They were the top favourites after the early defeats of Maria Maria Kirilenko and Jie Zheng in the 1st round and Shahar Peer and Anabel Medina in the 2nd round. Slovakian Jarmila Gajdosova was the surprise of the tournament reaching the semifinals after entering the Main Draw as a Lucky Loser.

In Tashkent, 18-years old Romanian Sorana Cirstea confirmed her progression this season and got her first WTA title, after coming back from a set down to defeat young German Sabine Lisicki in the tie-break of a thrilling third set. Remarkable performances by other promising young players such as Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova, who retired in her semifinal against Cirstea, and quarterfinalists Urszula Radwanska and 15-years old Michelle Larcher de Brito. 1st seed and top favourite Shuai Peng was upsetted by Lisicki in the semis.

Stuttgart (GER), Tier II, $650,000
Final: Jelena Jankovic (SRB) def Nadia Petrova 6/4 6/3

Tokyo (JAP), Tier III, $175,000
Final: Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) def Kaia Kanepi (EST) 6/2 3/6 6/1

Tashkent (UZB), Tier IV, $145,000
Final: Sorana Cirstea (ROM) def Sabine Lisicki (GER) 2/6 6/4 7/6