Australian Open and Brisbane finalist Justine Henin could not overcome dangerous Argentine Gisela Dulko who won a see-saw 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 match. The 31st seed was very much in form, while Henin showed a bit of rust from an extended layoff. The serve was the key in this one as Dulko lost all three of her service games in set two only to come up with a key reversal in set three and upset her idol. Henin had won their only previous meeting.

The day’s biggest upset belonged to Great Britain’s sprightly qualifier, Elena Baltcha, who came all the way back from 1-5 in the third to surprise China’s hot-playing 7 seed Na Li. In a fiery 7-6 (6), 2-6, 7-6 (7) 2 hour 50 minute showdown of ball retrieving extraordinaire, Baltcha outlasted her senior opponent.

The win was Baltcha’s first over a top ten opponent and should push her well above her 65th world ranking. Baltcha now moves on to challenge Australian wild card Alicia Molik, who held off Anabel Medina Garrigues, the 29th seed, 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (5) in another marathon match. Look for more f the same in the next round.

Russian grunt and groan queen, Maria Sharapova, let her presence be known with a tense victory over a very competitive country mate, Vera Dushevina. Sharapova does not garner the respect she is accustomed to and is viewed as a beatable foe. Dushevina was serving for the match at 5-3, 30-15 in the second before Sharapova found her way and spun off four straight games.

Her 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 2 hour 18 minute win was a good test for Maria, who recently triumphed at Memphis. The long blonde beauty is showing hopeful signs but seems short on championship focus.

Teenager Polona Hercog served notice that she is a star of the future with a solid performance against 11th seeded Marion Bartoli. The French star will next face ageless American Jill Craybas who won by virtue of a Sabine Lisicki retirement in the third set.

Men’s second round action begins today with many of the tour’s heavyweights due to perform.

Melanie Oudin Out At Indian Wells

Melanie Oudin – First Round Casualty

The Cinderella Dream is on hold, at least for another two weeks. Melanie Oudin, who hoped a return to big galleries and American soil would lead her to a repeat of her performance at last year’s U.S. Open became a first round casualty at Indian Wells. Oudin did not have the fuel to stay with Italian upstart Roberta Vinci, who fought back for the 3-6, 6-3, 6-0 triumph.

Once again, Oudin’s serve was extremely vulnerable. Vinci won 5 of a possible twelve break points and captured all three in the final set. In the wake of her quarterfinal upset in Memphis, this loss was particularly bitter for America’s third ranked player.

The diminutive fireball reached the semis in Paris and had a strong Davis Cup performance, but cannot find a consistent serve to pressure opponents. And, Vinci, like most tour players, had the answers for the 75 miles per hour second serves. The Italian now moves on to play 21st seeded, two time champion Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

Sixteen-year old American, Sloane Stephens, took the spotlight with her first-ever main-level Tour victory when she turned the tables on 67th ranked Lucie Hradecka of Czechoslovakia. Hradecak made a match of it, storming back in the second set from 2-5 deficit to earn the tiebreaker. The 7-6 (5, 7-6 (7) match took one hour 53 minutes.

Stephens is the 747th ranked tour player and next faces defending champion Vera Zvonareva, who like most of the top players drew a first round bye. Stephens had a successful year on the junior circuit last season.

Justine Henin Storms

Henin Storms

Justine Henin showed no rust on the way to a swift 6-2, 6-2 win over Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova. The match was Henin’s first at Indian Wells in four years. The popular veteran cruised to 4-0 leads in both sets before serving out.

There’s something very positive in Henin’s energy field. As usual, she will be a difficult out for anyone this time around. She has now won 11 of the last twelve matches played at the BNP Paribas Open. Henin next plays 31st seed Gisela Dulko of Argentina, a feisty competitor in her own right.

Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder made fast work of Italian Tathiana Garbin needing just fifty-five minutes to earn a 6-2, 6-1 triumph. Scnyder had five break point chances and won them all.

Russian Vera Dushevina earbned a surprisingly lopsided win over Australia’s Jalena Dokic. After losing the first set 6-0, Dokic made a run but lost the last four games in the 47 minute match.

Tour pretty girls take the court in the second round as Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Maria Sharapova and Russia’s newest tennis darling Maria Kirilenko are ready to tee it up. Not too many upsets are on the horizon for the next round, although Ivanovic and Sharapova always make it interesting.

Tournament heavyweights Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Yanina Wickmayer will join Henin and Svetlana Kuznetsova in round two. The tournament winner is likely to come from this group.

Word number one, Roger Federer, the man with all the Grand Slam records, including this year’s Australian Open has a first round bye, like all the top seeds. After that, things get interesting in a hurry.

Assuming form holds, the Swiss star will face resurgent Cypriot, Marcos Baghdatis, in the third round. Baghdatis is fresh from a three set final appearance against Novak Djokovic in Dubai, a match Marcos felt he should have won. If Federer is rusty, Baghdatis could throw a fly in the ointment.

17th ranked Czech star Radek Stepanek may be looming in the fourth round. Stepanek is 2-8 against Federer lifetime. The most likely quarter final opponent will be 7th seeded American Andy Roddick, who fought Roger Federer tooth and nail at Wimbledon last year in a memorable five set finals.

The most likely semifinal opponent will be this year’s Australian Open finalist, Britain’s Grand Slam wannabe Andy Murray, who showed plenty of rust in a lackluster Dubai performance. Murray should survive to the fourth round where hard serving Ivo Karlovic or ball-hawking David Ferrer will be lurking.

Murray will be more sternly tested against the winner of Jo Willfried Tsonga or 8th seed Robin Soderling, who is always dangerous and very much in form. Soderling will be a tough 5th round pairing for Murray.

The bottom half of the draw is loaded with talent and upset potential. 6th seed Nikolay Davydenko will be seeking to dismantle defending champ Rafa Nadal and then eventually through Federer in the finals for the third time in six months. The lofty goal may meet some resistance along the way. Davydenko will have to play through Viktor Troicki and Fernando Verdasco before he reached the winner of John Isner and 3rd seeded Nadal. Isner does not back off any match and appears a big star of the future.

2nd seed Novak Djokovic may have the easiest path to the quarters, where formidable foe Marin Cilic will undoubtedly be waiting. The Djokovic- Cilic winner will run head first into the Davydenko – Nadal victor.

Djokovic is fresh from the Dubai championship and a Davis Cup quarter final win with his pal Troicki. Of late, the Serb has made a habit of engaging in three set matches. He may be ripe for a Cilic upset.

Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia

The 2010 Paribas Open in Indian Wells California is ready to go with many of the game’s top stars competing for more than $3.6 million in prize money. Women’s play begins today, March10th. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the top seed. Dane Caroline Wozniacki pulls seed number 2 followed by fast-rising Victoria Azarenka and Elena Dementieva. The tournaments favorites are a pair of Belgians, Kim Clijsters, last year’s U.S. Open Champions and seven time Grand Slam winner Justine Henin.

The really good news is that while they are not among the top seeds, the top Belgians are in different halves of the draw. It seems likely that this year’s Indian Wells victor will have to play through one or both of these experienced competitors.

Despite the absence of heavyweights Serena and Venus Williams, Indian Wells shapes up to be the most balanced, most competitive tourney of the year. Henin, with two final appearances this year and Clijsters with one championship under her belt, add respectability to every draw.

In the top bracket, Kuznetsova will most likely have to play through Agnes Szavay in the third round before meeting the Kleybanova-Clijsters winner in the fourth round. That is no easy path to the quarters. Szavay has been on a roll of late almost upsetting Elena Dementieva in the finals at Rotterdam. Clijsters has a 7-1 career record against Svetlana and is the more successful hard court player.

The lower quarter of the upper bracket is fairly weak. Flavia Pennetta is favored to knock off sixth seeded Jalena Jankovic, if the struggling Serb arrives at the fourth round.

Victoria Azarenka should have little resistance moving to an intriguing fourth round pairing with another 20-year old hard hitter, Belgian slammer Yanina Wickmayer. Wickmayer may meet some resistance from either up and down performer Melanie Oudin or battling Daniela Hantuchova. A win over Hantuchova would be a feather in Oudin’s cap, helping her to climb up the ladder.

8th seeded Samantha Stosur highlights the bottom quarter of the upper bracket. Stosur will draw last year’s champion Vera Zvonareva, with the winner moving on to challenge the Azarenka-Wickmayer winner in the quarters. Zvonareva will have to play through Serb, Ana Ivanovic, if the pretty girl gets out of her bathing suit and back into tennis.

The two headliners in the upper bracket of the bottom draw are 6th seeded Agnes Radwanska and 4th seeded Elena Dementieva. Looming in the wings for Agnes is the formidable Henin, a probable third round match. The winner of that match will most likely draw Marion Bartoli in the fourth round. Dementieva appears to have the smoothest ride to the quarters, but her serving inconsistencies can create some disturbing losses.

Ion the bottom bracket of the lower draw, there are a bevy of tour glamour girls. 2nd seeded Wozniacki heads the crop with Maria Sharapova and Maria Kirilenko in the mix. Wozniacki has been unable to gain her 2009 form. The likely survivor will probably be either hard-charging Nadia Petrova or steady retriever Na Li, who is fast moving up the ranking’s ladder.

It is easy to build a case for both favorites. Nadal has played in five French Opens and won four of them. Henin has also won four tournaments at Roland Garros. She has entered the tournament eight times. Nadal boasts six Grand Slam titles, Henin seven.

Apparently, since returning to the tour, Henin has impressed everyone except the tour’s hierarchy. That’s the hierarchy that ranks Dinara Safina second, Caroline Wozniacki fourth and Kim Clijsters 17th. Help!

On the men’s side, the Great One, Roger Federer, winner of last year’s tournament, is listed at 9/4 with rising star Juan Martin Del Potro, at 4/1, just ahead of Novak Djokovic at 7/1 and Andy Murray at 8/1.

The ever dangerous Nikolay Davydenko, who has been in form and holds an impressive clay court record is at 10/1. Then, there is a serious drop-off.

Fernando Verdasco is 33/1. Cilic, Soderling and Frenchman Gael Monfils are at 50/1. That pretty much highlights the imbalance on the men’s tour. The best players win the big events. The top six players are all at 10/1 or less and then there is a big dip to the next tier. The slow clay favors those that can cover the court, stay on the court and deploy tactical strategy.

With the return of Clijsters and Henin, there is much more balance on the women’s side. While Henin is the prohibitive favorite at 5/4, Serena Williams and Clijsters are at 6/1. Last year’s upset winner, Svetlana Kuznetsova, is at 13/2 with hard-hitting Victoria Azarenka at 10/1. Wozniacki, the fourth ranked faltering Dane is at 13/1.

Somehow Dinara Safina is at 14/1 along with graceful Elena Dementieva. Venus Williams and the third Belgian star, Yanina Wickmayer, are at 20/1. Wickmayer just might be a good longshot play, but the champ looks to be coming from the elite list of favorites. Azarenka has had some success on clay but usually the slower surface hurts she and Wickmayer, but they are very young and in great form.

This year’s French Open boasts a much improved field this time around. The fleet afoot will prevail. If Nadal is healthy, there is not a better retriever and impossible shot-maker in the game. Bon chance!

Nikolay Davydenko of Russia

Nikolay Davydenko and Andy Murray share the distinction of being the two best players on the professional circuit without a Grand Slam Championship to their credit. That is no easy cross to bear.  While the flashy Murray gets loads of criticism, Davydenko’s resume shortcoming goes relatively unnoticed.  But, time is running out for the talented Russian.

His resume is impressive.  At age 29, the 5’10” strategist and all court player has little to prove, but that first major would make a good career into a great career.

This is a man who has won more than $16 million on tour since 1999, compiled 20 tour victories and won the last 6 ATP finals in which he has played.  He also has the impressive distinction of only being the second player to put away Roger Federer and Nadal in successive tournaments.  No easy task.

In winning in Doha to stat the 2010 season, Davydenko rallied from an 0-6 first set to overtake Nadal, an almost impossible task.  The win was the first time in 338 matches that he had come back from an 0-6 hole.  It was only the tenth time Davydenko had lost a love set since his professional debut.  Now, that’s consistency.

Nikolay’s career record stands at 388 – 233.  He has won 107 tiebreakers and lost 88.  His ATP finals record is an impressive 20 –5. Heading into Indian Wells, he stands at 13-3 in 2010.

It seemed Davydenko had eventual winner Roger Federer on the ropes again in Melbourne.  Up a set and with a break at 2-0, his remarkable run looked to be continuing.  But, just as quickly as he burst from the gate, Federer turned the tables.  Inexplicably, Davydenko began to spray shots and commit uncharacteristic errors in strategy and execution.

These periods of erratic play have blemished an otherwise stellar career.  Surprisingly, Davydenko is equally effective on clay as he is on the harder surfaces.  His clay record is 164 – 88.  On the hard courts, he stands at 184-112.

2006 was the Russian’s finest year.  He compiled 69 match triumphs and won 5 ATP titles.  He reached the quarterfinals or better in 15 of his 32 tournaments.

Perhaps his best win in 2009 was the Barclay’s ATP Tour Finals in a stirring match against Juan Martin del Potro.  He finished the year in the top 6 for the fifth consecutive year.

Davydenko is dangerous.  He has the experience to identify the opposition’s weaknesses and the skills to exploit those flaws.  His multi-dimensional strengths far outweigh his very few weaknesses.  He is serving as well as he ever has and could score at Indian Wells.  Never count this guy out!

Victoria Azarenka

There is no need to worry about 20-year old Victoria Azarenka, who grunts for release.  Do not bother that in her four years on the tour, she has not won a Grand Slam Event.  Not to fear.  The pretty, queen-to-be has succeeded at every level since joining the IT Tour in 2003.

Most would say, Victoria has it all.  Her many international fans are just waiting for that one big signature win in a major event.  She has come close on two occasions, the 2009 Runner-up finish at Paris and this year’s semifinal loss in Melbourne.  It seems Victoria has everything she needs on the court except that one necessary intangible, the ability to close clutch matches.

She has earned the reputation as the player that can beat anyone – before the final round.  But, then again, she is just 20 years old, in great shape and easing to the eyes as well.

Despite some high-profile losses, Victoria has earned five tour championships and has earned more money than her 19-year old Danish rival and world’s fourth ranked player Caroline Wozniacki.  Azarenka is certainly playing some of the best tennis on the tour this season and looms as a force to be reckoned with at Indian Wells later this month.

In her very first year on the tour, the blonde bomber played in all four majors, gaining the 3rd round at the U.S. Open.  Entering 2007, tour players were not sure what to make of the loudest competitor.  Victoria’s characteristic “grunt” as she struck the ball gained media, fan and player attention.  At 17 years old the 5’9” beauty found herself squarely in the middle of a continuing tour controversy.

The controversy did not slow her down.  In fact, it just may have made the fierce competitor even more determined.  In just her second year, she claimed two tour titles, finished runner-up twice and was on her way to stardom.  She won the Mixed Doubles Championship at the U.S. Open and broke into the top fifty.  Victoria had arrived and people took notice.

2008 was a bit more difficult.  Victoria forged her way into the top twenty with no singles crowns but on the back of very consistent play.  She reached the fourth round at Roland Garros.  More importantly, she was losing to the right players and winning matches she was favored to win.

In 2009, her dazzling power seemed to intensify.  Having recovered nicely from knee surgery, Victoria seemed stronger than ever.  She took dead aim at some of the tour’s beauty queens and one-by-one moved up the ladder, reaching the top ten early in the year.  Azarenka rode a 24-2 start to climb to number 7.  Now everyone’s eyes were open.  She would no longer surprise opponents.   She was favored in most matches and competitive in all.

But, her runner-up finish in Paris, third round appearances at Melbourne and London were disappointments.  Along with success came expectations.  And the fans now mimicked her grunt.  Distractions began to mount.

Her fast start gained her the Brisbane title, the Memphis title and the prestigious Miami title before March had ended.  Toward the end of the year, she seemed fatigued and less consistent and, frankly, a littler annoyed.  She suffered some disappointing knockouts.

Coach Sam Sumyk certainly found the key in the off season.  Victoria stormed out of the gates at Melbourne and had eventual winner Serena Williams on the ropes in the semis.  Her runner-up position in Dubai was a solid performance, but she came up short against Venus Williams.  Her career won-lost record stands at an impressive 193-88.

One of these days, and probably sooner rather than later, Victoria is going to finish a match against one of the Williams girls.  Then, watch out.  This woman is moving north on the ladder and with the inconsistent play of Safina (2), Wozniacki (4) and even Kuznetsova (3) seems the more troublesome opponent.  We look for Victoria to reach the finals at Indian Wells.  This just may be her coming out party.

Kim Clijsters

Fellow tour players did not have enough time to see how Kim Clijsters would return to the tour late last season.  After three summer tune-ups, the 36 time tour winner and two-time Grand Slam Champion stole the show in New York at the U.S Open.  A sentimental favorite, Clijsters had taken more than two years off to be with her newborn child.  With her September victory, she became the first mother, since Yvonne Goolagang (1980) to win a major title.

Kim fashioned her comeback with the help of long-time coach Wim Fissette and trainer Sam Versiegers.  Her refreshing poise makes her a strong contender in every match.  As evidenced by her play against Serena Williams in the Open’s semifinal match, Clijsters is all the way back and on a mission.  Kim’s relentless ground strokes and unflappable serve seemed to unnerve Serena and led to the now famous outburst, disqualifying the top seed.  Clijsters eased past young, surprise finalist Caroline Wozniacki to capture her second U.S. Open.

Clijsters brought a new sense of order to the topsy-turvy world of women’s tennis.  Finally, there was another proven player to challenge Serena and the game’s elite.  With more than $16 million in career earnings and with more than $80,000 deposited this year, Clijsters is certainly the most dangerous player not in the top ten.  With country mate Justine Henin floating in the draw, no bracket is safe.  You can bet the seeds are looking for those two as they rate their brackets.

2007 started well for Clijsters.  She jumped out to a 14-2 record, winning at Sydney, reaching the semis in Melbourne and the finals at Antwerp as well as the 4th round in Miami.  On May 6th, as the 4th ranked player on the tour, she hit the brakes by announcing her retirement.

This year she championed in Brisbane before heading to Melbourne and a bracket filled with landmines, including Henin, Petrova, Dementieva, Kuznetsova and friend-foe Wickmayer.  6 of the world’s best and most powerful players were congregated in one overloaded bracket.  Clijsters appeared mystified by the play of Nadia Petrova and suffered the worst defeat of her career.

She seemed to take it well.  Petrova was definitely on her game.  Clijsters has not stepped onto a WTA court since, which leaves questions about her fitness for Indian Wells.  Clijsters is regarded as an all court player.  She reached the finals on the clay at Roland Garros and has won on the speed courts at the U.S. Open twice.  Kim is enjoying married and family life and is not allowing her career to upset her matronly responsibilities.  It will be interesting to see how the winner of 447 singles matches balances her act.

No matter what she does, she is way too dangerous to be seeded behind the likes of Safina or Wozniacki.  It’s time to change the ratings guys.  The Belgians are back on top of women’s tennis, right where they belong.

Justine Henin

In Melbourne, one of the most dominant signs read Just In Time, a tribute to Justine Henin’s return to the tour.  The popular 5’ 5 1/2” Belgian dynamo returned to the tour after a nearly an 18 month leave of absence and immediately stormed to the forefront. In her very first event, the unseeded Henin put away Nadia Petrova, the two seed, in the first round at Brisbane and then marched to the finals.  She succumbed to Kim Clijsters, another Belgian comeback player, in the finals but clearly staked her claim to the elite level of women’s tennis.

Henin is the only player to have retired at the very top of her game and at the top of the women’s tennis rankings.  Justine is a competitor extraordinaire.  She has to be.  Lacking the tall, muscular frame of many of the tour’s top players, Justine must rely on strategy, poise, stinging ground strokes and meticulous physical preparation to earn her victories. The formula has worked well for Henin.  With more than $20 million in career earnings, 41 career singles titles, and seven Grand Slam titles, she s the toughest unseeded player ever to hit the tour.  Despite her final appearance at Brisbane and her final appearance in Melbourne, she will remain unseeded for this week’s tough Indian Wells event.  Don’t count her out! With 503 career wins against just 109 losses, it takes nerve to bet against the fleet, determined Belgian.  She has the endurance to wear harder hitters down and has had great success in three set matches.  It’s just what she does.  She does not have the emotional outbursts or grunting annoyances that typify other prima donnas on the tour.  Instead, Justine Henin plays to the last point of every match.

Henin turned pro in 1999.  She won her first tournament at Antwerp at 17 years old.  At 18, in 2000, she broke into the top 50 but captured no titles.  In 2001, Justine raised the bar and the future looked very good indeed.  The Belgian jumped into the top ten, won three tour titles, reached the semis at Roland Garros and the finals at Wimbledon.  Justine was now a player to be reckoned with. She reached number 1 in 2003, winning a remarkable 75 matches and reaching the semifinals or better in 18 of the 19 events in which she played.  She claimed both the French Open and the U.S. Open to nail down her first two Grand Slam events. Justine is a streaky player.  Much of her success relies upon holding her less than intimidating service.  In 2004, Henin started the year aggressively, winning the Australian Open and winning her fist 16 matches.  However, a respiratory disease began to take its toll.  She was able to rally to claim the gold medal at the Olympics but finished the year at number four.  She withdrew from several tournaments at the end of the season.

After finishing a number 6 in 2005, Henin rebounded to claim the top ranking in both 2006 and 2007.  How can it be, that the player nobody wants to play is unseeded again this week at Indian Wells?  It may bother her fans, but Justine seems to relish the underdog role.  Watch out for this fireball again this week.

Maria Sharapova

They may call it the tennis tournament in the desert, but Indian Wells is a special event featuring the biggest galleries outside of the four major tournaments. With $4.5 million in prize money and loads of live television coverage, players can gain prestige, riches and exposure at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open from March 10th – 21st. What more could an aspiring tour player want?

The outdoor hard courts provide plenty of fast-paced action. More than 330,000 fans are expected to turn out to watch many of the tour’s biggest names and hottest players.

Justine Henin was granted a wild card berth this time around. Since returning to the tour earlier this season, the 27-year old Belgian reached the finals in Brisbane and the finals at Melbourne. Along the way, she knocked off much higher seeds and younger players, including Elena Dementieva and hard-hitting 20-year old country-mate Yanina Wickmayer.

The seven-time Grand Slam Champion gets little respect. It’s mystifying really. Henin won the Indian Wells event in 2004 and holds 41 WTA singles titles. Unseeded? Not again. Justine’s placement in the Australian Open in a quarterfinal bracket with Svetlana Kuznetsova, Kim Clijsters, Wickmayer and Ana Petrova unbalanced the entire draw.

Other wild card passes were issued to American youngsters Christina McHale, Alexa Glatch and popular Bethanie Mattek-Sands. As a 17-year old, McHale gained the second round of the US. Open last year. Glatch has five ITF titles and Mattek-Sands holds seven tour doubles titles.

The tournament’s betting favorite will be another Belgian and 2009 U.S Open Champion, Kim Clijsters. Clijsters holds 36 tour titles and has won in the desert in 2003 and 2005. Kim has something to prove after her collapse against Petrova in Melbourne. She won at Brisbane, defeating unseeded Henin in the finals.

Last year’s champion, Vera Zvonareva will be defending both her 2009 singles and doubles championships. She will be joined by other former winners Serb Ana Ivanovic (2008), Russian Maria Sharapova (2006) and Daniela Hantuchova (2002 and 2007). Former World Number 1’s, Ivanovic and Sharapova, have fallen upon hard times of late and suffered surprising losses in early 2010. Ivanovic is unable to improve a weak, inconsistent serve. Sharapova has not come back to form after shoulder injuries. The two tour poster girls need some wins.

Last year’s Champion Vera Zvonareva will be back to defend both her singles and doubles titles, where she combined with powerful Victoria Azarenka. After reaching eight finals in 2008, Vera had a relatively quiet 2009 and is waiting to emerge from the shadows in 2010.

The impressive Azarenka, just 20 years old, is on the cusp of a major breakthrough. She battled eventual champion Serena to the end at Melbourne and may have let an upset slide away. Azarenka is one big win away from becoming a dominating tour player. Despite a few high profile losses, Victoria will not be deterred.