WTA YEC Crisis Center: Day 4

By Peter BodoPublished November 09, 2007

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 08: Anna Chakvetadze of Russia celebrates her win over Jelena Jankovic of Serbia on day three of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships at the Madrid Arena on November 8, 2007 in Madrid, Spain. Chakvetadze won the match in three sets, 6-4, 0-6 and 6-3. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) — © 2007 Getty Images

Morning. This is today's thread for the Tribe to discuss the tennis being played at the year-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, and any other tennis-related issues of the day.

The four semifinal spots have already been decided, going to Justine Henin (winning the Yellow Group with a round robin record of 3-0 with no sets lost), Anna Chakvetadze (2-1, also in the Yellow Group, with the loss of three sets), Ana Ivanovic (2-0 in the Red Group with the loss of one set), and Maria Sharapova (2-0, also in the Red Group, with the loss of a set).

However, it is not yet known what the specific semifinal matchups will be. Sharapova's victory yesterday over Svetlana Kuznetsova confirmed not only her place in the semifinals, but Ivanovic's - however, Sharapova and Ivanovic are due to meet today, and the result of their match will determine who will come out on top in the Red Group. The winner will face Chakvetadze in the semifinal, and the loser will play Henin.

The Order of Play for today has Jelena Jankovic to face Marion Bartoli first. Unsurprisingly, the prime-time evening match to follow this is Ana Ivanovic versus Maria Sharapova, with Svetlana Kuznetsova to face Daniela Hantuchova in the final match. Thus, in two of today's matches, the protagonists are playing not to go down 0-3 (or, in Bartoli's case as substitute for Serena Williams, 0-2 by her own efforts) in their groups.

Enjoy the day's tennis.

-- Rosangel