World No.32 Daniela Hantuchova followed her upset of top seed and twice defending champion Vera Zvonareva, with a convincing 6-0 6-2 victory over Sara Errani in the PTT Pattaya Open final. The fourth-seeded Hantuchova converted six of her 13 opportunities to break the Italian and clinched her first title in almost four years.

Hantuchova’s previous singles trophies include Indian Wells 2002 and 2007, and her latest prior to today’s in Thailand, Linz 2007.

As for the 44th-ranked Errani, she won two WTA titles in 2008 (Palermo and Portoroz), and this is the third final she has lost. (photo AP via Yahoo)

Twice defending champion and top seed Vera Zvonareva suffered a straight sets defeat to Daniela Hantuchova in the semifinals of the PTT Pattaya Open. To make matters worse for Zvonareva, the match point that Hantuchova converted came when Zvonareva was penalized for swearing (after having been warned for smashing a racquet).

The 7-6(3) 6-4 victory has enabled the fourth-seeded Hantuchova to be one match way from her first title since Linz 2007. Her last obstacle will be eighth seed Sara Errani.

The final at the Open GDF Suez in Paris will feature seed No.1 Kim Clijsters, who will become WTA No.1 on Monday, and fourth seed and world No.18 Petra Kvitova. Clijsters defeated Kaia Kanepi 6-1 7-5 in the semifinals, while Kvitova cruised past Bethanie Mattek Sands 6-2 6-0.

Both Clijsters and Kvitova have already clinched a title this season: Clijsters won the Australian Open, while Kvitova won the Brisbane International. So far they have faced each other two times, both matches were in 2010, and Clijsters was victorious on both occasions, losing a total of just five games. (photo: Stephane Martinache)

Vera Zvonareva is now just two steps away from her third successive title at the PTT Pattaya Open in Thailand. The top-seeded Russian beat world No.40 Peng Shuai 6-4 4-6 6-4 and earned her 13th consecutive win at the tournament. The victory didn’t come without a challenge, as Peng had two break points to lead 5-3 in the third set. Zvonareva’s next obstacle is Daniela Hantuchova.

Second seed Ana Ivanovic lost in today’s Pattaya quarterfinals. The Serb was defeated by Roberta Vinci, the first time in their five meetings. Final score: 7-5 6-3.

A mention of Galina Voskoboeva’s Pattaya campaign I owe to our reader and contributor John Bolan. Voskoboeva lost in the quarterfinals to Sara Errani, 2-6 6-3 6-2. But this defeated came only after she won two qualifying matches, including one against Sania Mirza (Voskoboeva's first match back from almost a year long injury), and her second-round match against third seed Maria Kirilenko.

Elsewhere, that is in Paris, another tournament is in full swing. As we’re awaiting the spectacle of the day – Kim Clijsters vs. Jelena Dokic, which could earn Kim No.1 ranking – let’s mention a great match that happened between Andrea Petkovic and Bethanie Mattek Sands. Petkovic was in charge during the beginning of the match, her service games were strong and she earned a set point. However, Mattek Sands miraculously got back into the match, and in a tiebreak won that first set, leaving Petkovic in utmost frustration.  Even though the German won the second set, Mattek Sands repeated the history and advanced to the semifinals, 7-6(4) 2-6 6-3. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

Vera Zvonareva is looking for her third straight title at the PTT Pattaya Open. The top-seeded Russian started off well, with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Tamira Paszek in the first round. Actually, in the first set Zvonareva had a 1-3 deficit, but overcame it and will next play 475th-ranked Thai qualifier, Nungnadda Wannasuk. Zvonareva now has a 13-2 record at the PTT Pattaya Open and her Tuesday’s win is her 11th straight at this tournament.

Second seed Ana Ivanovic was playing only her second WTA match of the season, after her first-round exit at the Australian Open, and beat Nudnida Luangnam 6-0 6-2. By the way, Ivanovic’s trial period with Portuguese coach Antonio van Griche has ended, and they are not continuing their cooperation.

Seventh seed Zheng Jie was taken out by Akgul Amanmuradova, 6-4 7-6(6). She was the only seed that fell on Tuesday. Last year’s finalist Tamarine Tanasugarn is also out, as Ayumi Morita defeated her 6-3 6-2.

Seeds that advanced are No. 4 Daniela Hantuchova, No.5 Roberta Vinci and No.8 Sara Errani. (photo: chascow)

Two Russians took the two tournaments that finished this weekend: Elena Dementieva won the Open GDF SUEZ in her ninth attempt, and Vera Zvanareva successfully defended her PTT Pattaya Open title.

Dementieva, top-seed and last year’s finalist in Paris, recovered from losing the first set to beat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-7(5) 6-1 6-4 and finally win the indoor event in the capital of France.

"I have been trying to win this tournament for so many years – it's been one of the most difficult wins of my career and I am so happy," said Dementieva after winning her second title of 2010.

Meanwhile, in the other part of the world, Vera Zvonareva won the PTT Pattaya Open for the second successive year and thus became the first player to do such a thing in the 19-year history of the tournament. Top-seeded Zvonareva beat home favorite Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-4 6-4 in the final and collected her 10th career title. (photos via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

Anna Chakvetadze ended her two-match winning streak by losing to Tamarine Tanasugarn in the quarterfinals of the PTT Pattaya Open. Yes, winning back-to-back matches is news when we’re talking about Chakvetadze, once ranked No.5 now No.74,  as she had been failing to achieve that since August 2009.

The Russian had defeated Jill Craybas 6-1 3-6 6-3 in the first round of the PTT Pattaya Open, then Anastasia Rodionova 6-4 6-1 in the second round, before falling to home favorite Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-1 6-4 in the last eight.

Chakvetadze’s losses this season, prior to this latest one, include: first-round exit at Auckland, final round of qualifying at Hobart, and first-round defeat at the Australian Open. (photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Top seed Vera Zvonareva defeated Sania Mirza 7-5 6-1 in the final of the PTT Pattaya Open to win her eighth career title.

The Russian world No.5 was tested in a long first set, but showed her class in the second when she finished off the error-prone Indian.

The world No.126 Mirza was making her fourth career Tour final appearance and first since 2007 Stanford, where she lost to Anna Chakvetadze, while Zvonareva had lost her three previous finals, all in 2008. (source: Reuters)