Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Update

World No.1 Justine Henin and No.7 Serena Williams reach the quarters, but No.5 Ana Ivanovic and No.6 Anna Chakvetadze sent home abruptly and unexpectedly.

Doesn’t it figure? Here I am predicting a battle of the cover girls (Ivanovic and Chakvetadze) at the Porsche Grand Prix, and neither of them makes the next round. Instead we have No.5 Ivanovic falling to qualifier Kateryna Bondarenko 2-6, 6-1, 3-6, and No.6 Chakvetadze falling to No.19 Tatiana Golovin 6-7, 1-6. Am I a tennis guru or what!

Well, some things did go according to plan, because No.7 Serena Williams and No.1 Justine Henin are still on course for a final face-off. Williams appears to have the more difficult task in the quarters, facing No.2 Kuznetsova, but should be able to handle Golovin or Bondarenko (likely Golovin) in the semis if she gets past Kuznetsova.

No.1 Henin plays No.15 Elena Dementieva in the quarters, and will meet either No.3 Jelena Jankovic or No.9 Nadia Petrova in the semis. One never knows what to expect from the talented but erratic Petrova, and Jankovic and Henin will probably write another chapter in their developing story.

Jankovic has yet to beat Henin, and isn’t likely to do so until she develops a serve. That, combined with Henin’s consistent excellence, makes Henin a better bet to reach the final than Williams. Williams can beat anyone in the draw, including Henin, but her inconsistency doesn’t allow for any certainty that she will face Henin in the final.

With seven wins in 11 events, including two Grand Slam titles, look for Henin to make it eight of 12. However, after Serena’s embarrassing US Open, she is certain to do all she possibly can to claim redemption. In any event, this is one of the strongest fields before the Sony Ericsson Championships in Madrid, November 6 – 11. You can catch semis and final action on Tennis Channel Saturday and Sunday beginning at 7:00 A.M.