Serena Williams lost to China’s Li Na in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, and consequently Jelena Jankovic will take over her No.1 ranking next week.

American Williams was defeated in an intense three-setter 0-6 6-1 6-4.

Williams only took over the top spot when she beat Jankovic in the final of the US Open three weeks ago. Since Justine Henin retired in May, as much as four players have held the No.1 ranking: Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams – and we know Henin’s coach Carlos Rodriguez is not pleased with such a state of women’s tennis.

The world No.30 Li also beat Serena’s sister Venus Williams to reach the semifinals at the Beijing Olympics. (photo via Yahoo)

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Svetlana Kuznetsova and Daniela Hantuchova lost on the third day of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.

The fifth-seeded Kuznetsova was beaten by Patty Schnyder for the first time in more than three years. Schnyder advanced into the second round with a 6-4 4-6 7-5 victory over the Russian.

Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova, runner-up in Stuttgart in 2002, lost 6-3 6-2 in the first round to seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia.

Schnyder, who is seeking her second title of the year after winning in Bali, will face Russian Nadia Petrova in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The Olympic bronze medalist Zvonareva will next face Marion Bartoli of France. (photo: hantuchova-daniela.com)

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Top seed Justine Henin won her seventh singles title of the year after beating Tatiana Golovin 2-6 6-2 6-1 in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final in Stuttgart.

World No.19 Golovin was shining in the first set. As usually, Henin didn’t have any significant weaknesses in her play, but what an opponent Golovin was in the first set! She was confident and motivated and amazed me with her performance. But, as the second set progressed, Henin’s domination was ever greater, while Golovin was more and more just a shadow of the player from the first set. In the decider, the story from the second set continued, and Henin took the victory.

In the photo you can see the Stuttgart winner with her new Porsche 911 Turbo Convertible, which was given as a prize.

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Top-ranked Justine Henin and world No. 19 Tatiana Golovin defeated their semifinal opponents Saturday to reach the final of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Justine Henin beat third seed Jelena Jankovic 7-6 (7-2), 7-5, while Tatiana Golovin disposed of second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets 6-2 6-4.

Jankovic’s hopes of driving home a Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet are over, as superior Henin improved to 8-0 career record against the Serb. From 2-5 down in the first set, Jankovic fought her way back to force a tie-break, which the Belgian won 7-2. Jankovic held three break points for a 5-1 lead in the second set, but Henin then started playing her best tennis. She hit a perfect lob to win the game and, with Jankovic beginning to tire, Henin began dominating. She broke serve for a 6-5 lead and the match was over when Jankovic netted a drop volley attempt.

Tatiana Golovin reached the final of the tournament in Stuttgart for the second consecutive year by upsetting Russian world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova. Surprisingly, Golovin now holds a 3-1 head-to-head edge on Kuznetsova.

Justine Henin and Tatiana Golovin have faced each other twice, and the Belgian won both times.

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Elena Dementieva was a tough opponent, she battled and kept the match uncertain, but world number one Justine Henin was simply too strong and advanced to the semifinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart with a 6-4 6-4 victory.

Russian Dementieva had several break points in the first game, but didn’t convert them. Then, Henin went to a 5-0 lead, and when everyone thought that the Belgian top seed is impressively going to take the first set, Dementieva held two of her serves and made two breaks! Wow! However, Henin won the first set 6-4 when Dementieva double-faulted. The second set was also uncertain with Henin making three breaks, Dementieva two. Read more »

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