Tennis
Safarova upsets Hardin PARIS (AP) – Lucie Safarova upset top-seeded Justine Henin 7-6 (5), 6-4 Saturday and will face Nadia Petrova in the final of the Open Gaz de France.
Henin, playing in her first tournament of the year, wasted three set points in the opening set, and then led 5-4 in the tiebreaker. But Safarova won the next three points, clinching the set when Henin hit an off-balance shot out.
Bammer, Dulko advance to Pattaya final
BANGKOK, Thailand – Austria’s Sybille Bammer upset China’s Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-2 to earn a berth in the final against Argentine Gisela Dulko at the Pattaya Women’s Open.
Both players will be vying for their first WTA title when they meet Sunday. Bammer will be making her first final appearance.
Ailing Williams sisters pull out of tourneys
Serena Williams has the flu and Venus Williams has a sore wrist, forcing the sisters to pull out of upcoming tournaments.
Serena Williams withdrew from the Bangalore Open in India in what would have been her first tournament since her surprising victory at the Australian Open. The WTA Tour said Saturday the eight-time Grand Slam winner is still scheduled to play in the Dubai Championships that begin Feb. 19.
Venus Williams will not play at next week’s Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium, because of a lingering injury to her left wrist, organizers said. She aims to return for the Feb. 19-25 tournament in Memphis, Tenn.