Week #7: Venus retains her title in Dubai, Sharapova wins in Memphis.

Venus Williams successfully defended her title in Dubai and captured her 42nd WTA title, becoming the active player with more WTA singles titles, just ahead of Justine Henin who has 41. Williams, who didn't drop a set on the entire tournament, defeated 4th seed Victoria Azarenka in the final. Most of the attention was drawn on Israeli Shahar Peer, who this year was able to play after not being allowed last year. Peer had to play on secondary courts with high security, but was highly motivated and completed an amazing run upsetting 1st seed Caroline Wozniacki on her way to the semifinal, losing to Williams. Agnieszka Radwanska completed the semis and Russian Regina Kulikova had her breakthrough tournament, reaching the quarter-finals as a qualifier and upsetting 2nd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova on her way.

In Memphis Maria Sharapova found little opposition on her way to her 21st WTA title. She confirmed her condition of big favourite and didn't drop a set throughout the tournament, in fact she lost just 21 games in 10 sets. In the final Sharapova swept Sofia Arvidsson, who reached the final as a qualifier upsetting 2nd seed Melanie Oudin on her way. On her 2nd tournament after coming back from an injury break, British Anne Keothavong reached the semis but lost to Arvidsson. Petra Kvitova completed the semis.

Finally, in Bogota WTA #143 Mariana Duque Marino surprised everyone and captured her first WTA title in front of her home crowd. The final featured two players that had never gone further than quarter-finals in a WTA event, Duque and German Angelique Kerber. Kerber upsetted 1st seed Gisela Dulko in the semis. Spanish Arantxa Parra, who upsetted 3rd seed Sara Errani completed the semis, whereas 2nd seed Carla Suarez was upsetted in the 1st round by qualifier Kristina Antoniychuk.

Dubai (UAE), Premier, $2,000,000
Final: Venus Williams (USA) def Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 6/3 7/5

Memphis (USA), International, $220,000
Final: Maria Sharapova (RUS) def Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) 6/2 6/1

Bogota (COL), International, $220,000
Final: Mariana Duque Marino (COL) def Angelique Kerber (GER) 6/4 6/3