Daniela Hantuchova posed for Hello! magazine’s photographer Chris Bott during the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Hantuchova modeled poolside at the Four Seasons Hotel and also gave an interview for the magazine. The Slovakian, currently 43rd in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour rankings, discussed life on the road and living out of suitcase. (source: Daniela Hantuchova's official website via WTA Hotties)

Seed No.11 Victoria Azarenka upset world No.1 and top seed Serena Williams 6-3 6-1 to claim the biggest title in her career.

The 19-year-old Belorussian denied the American a record sixth Sony Ericsson Open title and at the same time became only the sixth teenage champion in tournament history, joining Monica Seles, Martina Hingis, Steffi Graf, Venus Williams and Gabriela Sabatini.

Williams gave Azarenka credit for winning the final, even though Williams’ left thigh was heavily strapped and she was struggling with her movement. I agree that Azarenka's capability shouldn't be denied, especially when we have in mind their last meeting, when Azarenka had to retire because of very evident illness, despite taking the first set.

The Belorussian won her first WTA singles title three months ago in Brisbane, and has now already added the third one to her resume.

Currently at the career high ranking of No.10, Azarenka will rise even more, to a career best No.8. Williams will remain No.1.

Winning the Sony Ericsson Open Azarenka earned $700,000 and Williams received $350,000. (photo via Sky Sports)

Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka will play each other for the third time in their careers and the second time in 2009 to fight for the Sony Ericsson Open title.

The 19-year-old Azarenka was the first to reach the final, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semis. Serena Williams joined the world No.10 after winning the 20th career encounter with sister Venus 6-4 3-6 6-3.

It will be very interesting to see this final, as Azarenka could make a big breakthrough by defeating the top-ranked player in the world, the defending champion and also the five-time Miami titlist in the biggest final of her career.

Also, remember this year’s Australian Open? Azerenka and Williams met in the fourth round, with Azarenka winning the first set, but having to retire in the second due to dizziness and illness. The Belorussian was playing superbly and was capable of pulling off an upset, but she was so sick that she almost collapsed on court. Therefore, the Sony Ericsson Open final is a great second chance for Azarenka.

Also, it shouldn’t be forgotten that should Serena claim her sixth Sony Ericsson Open title, she will make a record. At five, the American is currently equaled with Steffi Graf. (photos: Ralf Reinecke)

Belorussian Victoria Azarenka defeated world No.8 Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia 6-3 2-6 7-5 in the Sony Ericsson Open semifinals and is now one victory away from winning her third WTA singles title, and at the same time her third WTA singles title of the season (the first two are Brisbane and Memphis).

"It's really big, because it's first final in such a big tournament for me. It's the biggest moment, I would say, in my career," said Azarenka after reaching her first Premier final on the WTA Tour.

The 2006 Sony Ericsson Open champion Kuznetsova, who won her last title in August 2007 at New Haven, was contesting her first semifinal in 2009.

The 19-year-old Azarenka, the fresh member of the Top 10, will face one of the Williams sisters in the Miami final. (source: Sony Ericsson Open, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

World number one and top seed Serena Williams has come to be only two victories away from a record sixth Sony Ericsson Open title after beating China’s Li Na 4-6 7-6(1) 6-2 to reach the semifinals.

The 27-year-old Li raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set, and even though Williams won the next four games, Li took the opening set. The second set was decided in a tiebreak which Williams won 7-1. The five-time Miami champion was quick to capitalize in the third set.

In the semifinals, Williams could face a 20th career meeting with sister Venus, if Venus beats Iveta Benesova in their quarterfinal.

The other semifinal will feature Svetlana Kuznetsova and Victoria Azarenka. (source: Sony Ericsson Open, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was the first to enter the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open by overcoming Danish 13th seed Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-7(5) 6-1.

The 2006 Miami titlist defeated Wozniacki in 2 hours 54 minutes and will next play the winner of the Victoria Azarenka vs. Samantha Stosur quarterfinal, set to take place later on Tuesday.

Other quarterfinalists will take the courts on Wednesday. They include Serena Williams against Li Na and Venus Williams against Iveta Benesova. (photo by our reader Jacob)

Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki added fourth seed Elena Dementieva to the list of top players who exited the tournament too early, which already includes Dinara Safina, Vera Zvonareva, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic.

While the four women lost in the third round or earlier, Dementieva was a bit better,  falling to the WTA Tour's newcomer of the year 2008 7-5 6-4 in the fourth round.

The 18-year-old Dane, ranked 12th in the world, came back from a break down in both sets to reach her sixth quarterfinal of the season.

Wozniacki’s next opponent will be world No.8 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who comfortably won her match against fellow Russian Alisa Kleybanova 6-2 6-1. (source: Reuters, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Second seed Dinara Safina and seventh seed Ana Ivanovic are being as blue as their adidas outfits at the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open, as both exited the tournament in the third round already.

The Russian world No.2 Safina lost 6-1 6-4 to Australian Samantha Stosur, while last week’s finalist at Indian Wells, Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, fell to unfortunately almost-forgotten Agnes Szavay of Hungary.

"It just bad match for me, it was just a disaster match," Safina commented.

After being upset Ivanovic said: "I hardly did anything well today. I was trying to come in and I was volleying pretty well at times, but I was really disappointed. I couldn't really hold my serve." (source: BBC, photos via Ana Ivanovic's website, Sony Ericsson Open)

Jelena Jankovic’s terrible 2009 season is rapidly going even more downwards. After losing her opening match at the previous tournament, the BNP Paribas Open, Jankovic succumbed to Gisela Dulko in her opening match at the Sony Ericsson Open. Venus and Serena Williams, on the other hand, continued to do well, and both advanced to the third round in straight sets.

We have to mention that Dulko didn’t defeat the third-seeded Jankovic easily. Jankovic led 4-2 before losing the first set, and then in the second led 5-2 with two set points in that game and another at 5-3, and also led 5-2 in the tiebreak. The last year’s runner-up eventually lost 6-4 7-6(5).

Five-time Sony Ericsson Open champion Serena Williams, the No.1 seed, defeated American wildcard Alexa Glatch 6-2 6-3, while fifth-seeded Venus Williams was down a break in both sets against Shahar Peer, but won 6-3 6-3. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, photo: Ralf Reinecke)

Seeded players were mostly successful as the bottom half of the draw played the second round at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami.

Two of the Top 8 seeds in action cruised, No.2 seed Dinara Safina and No.7 Ana Ivanovic. Seed No.4 Elena Dementieva and No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova survived their three-setters.

No.11 seed Victoria Azarenka defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-2, the player who was shining last week at Indian Wells. Wildcard Jelena Dokic reached the second round, but couldn’t overcome Caroline Wozniacki, and lost 6-3 5-7 6-2.

Seed No.15 Flavia Pennetta edged doubles partner Maria Kirilenko, while No.12 seed Marion Bartoli became the first big upset of the week, falling to qualifier Anastasiya Yakimova 6-4 6-3 and enabling Yakimova to score her first Top 20 win.

Seed No.27 seed Sybille Bammer and No.28 seed Alona Bondarenko were also upset, falling easily to Samantha Stosur and Nicole Vaidisova, 6-1 6-1 and 6-1 6-0, respectively.

Others advanced well, including: No.18 seed Patty Schnyder, No.20 seed Amelie Mauresmo, No.22 seed Anna Chakvetadze, No.24 seed Alisa Kleybanova, No.25 seed Agnes Szavay and No.31 seed Carla Suarez Navarro. (source and photo: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)