The new blue-colored clay in Madrid didn't receive a warm welcome in the tennis world and on the WTA side fifth-ranked Samantha Stosur criticized it the most referring to it as "pointless", while Serena Williams called it "ridiculous". Maria Sharapova simply uttered "unique". However, players have gathered for the tournament and on Twitter we can see that there are many positive reactions. Let's see what those with positive attitude are saying:

Kuznetsova also showed where all the clay stays: Read more »

Caroline Wozniacki is through to the quarterfinals of the e-Boks Open, remaining undefeated at her home tournament since its founding in 2010. After a tricky opener against Urszula Radwanska, Wozniacki, so far always seeded No.1 at the e-Boks Open, comfortably defeated Pauline Parmentier 6-2 6-1, for her 12th straight win there and the number of 17 sets won in a row.

Second seed Angelique Kerber needed much more energy to advance to the final eight, but eventually defeated Anne Keothavong 4-6 6-3 6-3 for an all-German meeting against Mona Barthel.

Serbs Jelena Jankovic and Bojana Jovanovski are also through. The third-seeded Jankovic beat Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-1, losing just one game from 3-3 in the first set. Jovanovski pulled off an upset, beating fourth seed Monica Niculescu 6-7(6) 6-4 6-1.

Here are the e-Boks Open quarterfinal pairs: Caroline Wozniacki (1) vs. Alize Cornet, Bojana Jovanovski vs. Petra Martic, Kaia Kanepi (5) vs. Jelena Jankovic (3), Mona Barthel (6) vs. Angelique Kerber (2). (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

The Partizan Tennis Club and Serbian Tennis Association will organize a WTA event in Belgrade, Serbia, in 2012. Prize money will be $220,000. The exact date of the tournament is still under consideration, but it will take place just before the French Open or US Open.

Participation of Serbian tennis stars Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic and Bojana Jovanovski is expected, as well as of former Serbian representative, now an Australian national, Jelena Dokic, who has reconciled with her family, primarily with her father Damir who lives in Serbia. (source: Blic)

Kim Clijsters was playing her first match since ’s-Hertogenbosch in June and a right ankle injury, but her comeback lasted for only a set and a half as she retired from her opening match at the Rogers Cup against Zheng Jie with left abdominal injury. Clijsters won the first set 6-3, and retired in the second at 1-2.

Clijsters already had an ultrasound and she was diagnosed with partial tear in her left stomach muscle, which she first felt during her warmup for the match.

Serena Williams’ comeback is still fresh and she has already clinched a title at Stanford and in her first-round match against Alona Bondarenko at the Rogers Cup Serena won stunning 100% of points on first serve and 76% on the second. Also, in the 6-0 first-set win Serena lost only four points. Not to mention that the set lasted just 16 minutes! Final result: 6-0 6-3.

Ana Ivanovic also advanced to the second round, not troubled by qualifier Zhang Shuai en route to a 6-1 6-1 victory. Another Serbian, Bojana Jovanovski, got past the first round, but it was a retirement win – Jelena Dokic withdrew while trailing 2-0 with right shoulder injury. Last week’s titlist at Carlsbad Agnieszka Radwanska also won her first round, with a 6-4 6-1 win over Elena Vesnina. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

The encounter between Andrea Petkovic and Bojana Jovanovski was one of the juiciest openers. Petkovic's experience prevailed and she won in straight sets 6-4 7-6(3).

The 50th-ranked Jovanovski had opportunities to win the second set, which would take the continuation of the match to tomorrow, because of darkness, but it was never to happen as Petkovic fought off all set points and capitalized on Jovanovski's inability to capitalize on her chances. Nevertheless, Jovanovski once again showed her potential and passed one more inevitable lesson from the tennis experience.

They were practically equal in the department of winners, Jovanovski hit 31 and Petkovic 30, but Petkovic made 23 unforced errors compared to Jovanovski's 41.

The 15th-seeded Petkovic, who came to Paris fresh off her Strasbourg title, will play world No.45 Lucie Hradecka in the second round. (photo: sr_cranks)