WTA reintroduces byes for Rome and Tokyo semifinalists
The Women's Tennis Association has agreed to bring back byes to certain tournaments in 2009 in order to give players more time to rest between certain high-intensity events.
Rome is a 56-draw tournament followed by Madrid which is a 64-draw tournament. Similarly in the fall, Tokyo is a 56-draw tournament followed by Beijing. Several players were concerned there was too many matches in too few days.
The WTA responded by reintroducing byes for semifinalists in Rome and Tokyo, so that they can play one match less and have more time to rest. (source: Reuters)
Dinara Safina powered to her fourth title of the season with a solid 6-1 6-3 victory over fellow Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova.


Russians Svetlana Kuznetsova and Dinara Safina both claimed comfortable straight-set wins to advance into the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Top seed Jelena Jankovic’s chance of reclaiming the number one ranking has been ruined as she was defeated by Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
Jankovic started well against the fifth-seeded Russian but eventually went down 2-6 7-5 7-5. Had she went all the way to the Tokyo title, Jankovic would have overtaken Serena Williams in the rankings.