Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova overcame both a rain delay and top-seeded compatriot Elena Dementieva to win her first WTA title at the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.

The fourth-seeded Kleybanova survived some tough matches prior to the final, but in the title match she dominated one of the best players at the moment and cruised to a 6-3 6-2 victory.

Prior to the clash with heavy-hitting world No.29 Kleybanova, the seventh-ranked Dementieva hadn’t dropped a set in Kuala Lumpur and actually lost only an average of less than two games per set.

Before the 2010 Malaysian Open, Kleybanova’s best career singles results were semifinal finishes at Fès, Toronto and Moscow. (photo AP via Yahoo)

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Fifth-ranked Venus Williams followed up her Dubai title defense by extending her reign in Acapulco, winning the Abierto Mexicano TELCEL for the second time in a row.

The title at the International-level event in Mexico didn’t come easy for the top-seeded Venus, who had to overcome some real hurdles even though she faced opponents much lower ranked than herself.

The first two rounds went by fine, but in the quarterfinals against world No.399 qualifier Laura Pous Tio, Venus was 5-1 down in the third set before pulling off one of her biggest career comebacks. The following semifinal against world No.164 Edina Galovits was also a three-setter. In the title match, the seven-time Grand Slam champion faced first-time finalist, world No.60 and eighth seed Polona Hercog of Slovenia, and fought back after losing the first set to win 2-6 6-2 6-3.

Williams has now won nine titles on clay, coming in second among active players after Justine Henin who has 12. The American has also extended the gap between herself and Henin, having won 43 career titles to Henin’s 41. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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World No.1 Serena Williams had opened a secondary school in Kenya two years ago, which she said in her autobiography was one of the landmark events in her life, and has followed up her humanitarian work by opening another one in the same country.

This month’s inauguration of the Wee Secondary School in Makueni, Eastern Province, Kenya, is the continuation of the Build African Schools initiative and Hewlett Packard’s efforts.

Williams visited both the schools, about 50 km away from each other, and led tennis clinics during her three-day stay in Kenya. (source: Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)

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Fellow tennis blogger, HCFoo from Malaysia, was privileged to attend surprise birthday bash for China's Li Na.

Together with line judges, ballboys and ballgirls, media and organizers, HCFoo sang a birthday song for the 28-year-old Li, both in Malaysian and in English.

The bouquet of flowers you see in front of Li Na is from our fellow blogger.

Happy birthday from Women’s Tennis Blog as well. We're wishing you to advance further within the Top 10!

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World No.21 Zheng Jie has followed in the fashionable footsteps of most top women’s tennis players and posed for Asian All Sports magazine, or better called 全体育.

The Chinese two-time Grand Slam semifinalist has always been very cute, but it is refreshing to see her looking glamorous for a magazine photo shoot.

Zheng is currently playing the $220,000 Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur. (source: HCFoo's Tennis Blog)

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