Former world No.1 Ana Ivanovic may have downgraded from playing Doha two years ago to playing the lower-rate Bali, but she’s on a good way to get back to the Top 20, being one win away from achieving that.

On the day of her 23th birthday, Ivanovic defeated Kimiko Date Krumm, the only player in the Bali field whom she wasn’t familiar with, and reached the final of the last tournament this season.

The 40-year-old Date Krumm won the first three games of the match and had double set point at 5-3, but Ivanovic then went on a six-game streak to win the first set and lead 2-0 in the second. Still, even though Ivanovic was serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set, Date Krumm managed to stay in there, forced a tiebreak and won it despite trailing at first. The third set was Ivanovic’s, as she broke her opponent in the first and seventh games to move into the final with a 7-5 6-7(5) 6-2 victory.

The other finalist is Alisa Kleybanova, who defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-3 6-1 in the semis. Kleybanova was the one who took out defending champion Aravane Rezai in the previous round. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Twenty-nine-year-old Elena Dementieva quit tennis last week during the WTA Champinships in Doha and decided to pursue other things in life, such as starting a family. WTA players gathered to express their appreciation of Dementieva's personality, professionalism, successful singles and doubles career, and to share their memories of their tense matches with her.

The players featured in the video are: Francesca Schiavone, Jelena Jankovic, Kveta Peschke, Caroline Wozniacki, Kim Clijsters, Rennae Stubbs, Sam Stosur, Katarina Srebotnik, Lisa Raymond, Vera Zvonareva, Victoria Azarenka, Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta.

Newly-acquired BMW driving skills were of no help to Aravane Rezai against Alisa Kleybanova in their opening match at the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali.

Together with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who was dominated by Ana Ivanovic on Thursday, Rezai practiced reversing, maneuvering and braking in the new wheels of BMW X5 in Bali, but on the tennis court it was Rezai’s opponent who was in control, beating her 6-1 6-2.

Rezai didn’t manage to defend her Bali title, but will always stay in the history of this new WTA tournament, as the winner of the inaugural edition of the Balinese event.

Kleybanova is looking for her third title in Asia this year, after Kuala Lumpur and Seoul. Her next opponent will be the winner of the match between Yanina Wickmayer and Daniela Hantuchova. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Maria Sharapova is the most fashion-forward women's tennis player and her style has now been recognized at the 2010 ACE Awards in New York City. The Russian fashion influencer was particularly honored for her partnership with Cole Haan on their footwear and handbag collection.

"Everyone looks so beautiful, and not sweating," said the recently-engaged three-time Grand Slam champion about the audience the night she was presented with the Best Brand Collaboration award. (source: Double Bagel)

The second edition of the $600,000 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali, the last tournament of the WTA season, will feature up-and-coming stars, but also established players including Grand Slam champion Ana Ivanovic.

To qualify for Bali and its tropical fun a player had to win an International-level event during the season and be one of the six highest-ranked players who did not qualify for the WTA Championships.

Here’s the 2010 Bali field, including one International-level title a player has won in 2010:

Li Na – Birmingham
Aravane Rezai – Bastad (won the Bali title last year with Marion Bartoli retiring in tears after losing the first set 7-5 in the final)
Yanina Wickmayer – Auckland
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - Monterrey
Ana Ivanovic – Linz
Alisa Kleybanova - Kuala Lumpur
Daniela Hantuchova (wildcard)
Kimiko Date Krumm (wildcard)

This year there will be no round-robin format at Bali and thus all the players have received a bye in the first round. Li, Date Krumm, Pavlyuchenkova and Ivanovic are in the top half of the draw, Hantuchova, Wickmayer, Kleybanova and Rezai are in the bottom half.

What do you think of the Bali tournament being scheduled to take place after the WTA Championships? Wouldn't it be better to finalize the season with the WTA Championships? I feel that the new Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions is decreasing the feeling of the elite and grand ending to the season that the WTA Championships are bringing. (photos via Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions)

Elena Dementieva shocked the tennis world by leaving the sport without any prior notice, during the WTA Championships – Doha 2010. We have already shared with you some of the reasons behind Dementieva's decision, and I'm sure you would like more information about her future plans.

First of all, when Dementieva said she was ready for a big change in her life, yes, she was thinking about having babies. When asked about plans to have children, Dementieva said: "I hope so, yeah."

Also, you may have wondered how Dementieva will spend her time now that there is no travel and tennis in her life. The answer is that she will focus on her studies which she started last year at one of the best universities in Moscow. However, she will surely miss playing tennis and will follow the tournaments and congratulate players on their successes.

And of course, you may have wondered how Dementieva feels about not adding a Grand Slam title to her fruitful career. Well, she's not preoccupied with it, because she always gave the very best of herself – "You don't have to be perfect, but you have to try hard. And I did all the time." (source: WTA Tour, photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Ana Ivanovic had to part ways with Heinz Gunthardt because his family and other obligations prevented him from being 100% dedicated to Ivanovic, while she needs a full-time coach – someone to accompany her at all tournaments and training periods.

Partnership with Gunthardt, which started in February 2010, brought improvements to Ivanovic's game. Their cooperation ended after the China Open.

Ivanovic will not have a coach by her side in Bali, but she claims to have no problem with that as she went all the way to the Generali Ladies Linz title without a coach. (source: AnaIvanovic.com, photo: © Neal Trousdale)