Daniela Hantuchova

For the first time in the history of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, a world No.1 stepped away from the sport she ruled in 2008. But there was no shortage of pretenders to the tennis throne, in a season that saw a handful of teens establish themselves as serious contenders, and mid-career surges by a clutch of more established players. There was plenty of action off court as well, including a marketing push of heroic proportions and happy news from some of the Tour's best-loved retired stars.
 
JANUARY
 

Three of the four quarterfinals played at the FORTIS Championships Luxembourg on Friday went with the seedings, as Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki and Li Na won through to the final four. But No.3 seed Daniela Hantuchova's difficult season ended at the hands of recent Top 40 arrival Sorana Cirstea. 
 

Olympic gold medalist Elena Dementieva was dominant Friday in reaching the semifinals of the $225,000 Luxembourg Championships.

The top-seeded Dementieva, of Russia, needed just 58 minutes to slip past former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, 6-4, 6-0, converting 5-of-8 break points while only losing serve once.

Eighth-seeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania upset third-seeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia 7-6 (2), 6-2 Friday to reach the quarterfinals of the Fortis Championships.
 
Sixth-seeded Li Na of China defeated Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to join Cirstea in Saturday's semifinals.
 
Top-seeded Elena Dementieva played former top-ranked Amelie Mauresmo later Friday.

The quarterfinal line-up was confirmed at the FORTIS Championships Luxembourg on Thursday, as Elena Dementieva, Amélie Mauresmo and Anabel Medina Garrigues scored second round wins. They join 2007 runner-up Daniela Hantuchova, Caroline Wozniacki, Li Na, Iveta Benesova and Sorana Cirstea, who won through to the last eight on Wednesday.
 

Overall it was a great day for the seeds at the FORTIS Championships Luxembourg on Wednesday but for one in particular it was not peachy, as first round action wrapped up and the second round began at the Tier III event.
 

Russia's Anna Chakvetadze was back in winning form on Monday, as first round action began at the FORTIS Championships Luxembourg.
 

Anna Chakvetadze moved a step closer to ending a down year on a high note on Monday as she advanced to the second round of the FORTIS Championships in Luxembourg.
 
The second-seeded Russian saw off France's Mathilde Johansson a 6-4 7-6 (7-4).
 
Chakvetadze had the year of her life in 2007, capturing four titles, winning 59 matches and reaching the US Open semi-finals.
 

Olympic champion Elena Dementieva heads a strong field at the Tier III FORTIS Luxembourg Championships this week. The world No.5 is joined at the $225,000 event by three more Top 15 stars, in the form of Anna Chakvetadze, Daniela Hantuchova and fast-rising Caroline Wozniacki. Former world No.1 Amélie Mauresmo is also present, along with a host of younger prospects. They include 14-year-old Laura Robson, the British teenager who won the Wimbledon junior girls' title in July and is making her debut on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.
 

Daniela Hantuchova was the only singles seed in action on the first day of main draw play at the Tennis.com Zürich Open, and the 25-year-old's troubled comeback from injury continued as she fell in straight sets to Maria Kirilenko. It was also a bad day for France, with Amélie Mauresmo and Alizé Cornet both exiting the Tier II event.