Take Your Daughter to Victory Day in Prague

With seven year old daughter Tina watching in the stands, late-blooming Austrian Sybille Bammer won her second career title in Prague 7-6(4), 6-2, defeating Francesca Schiavone in the final.

Bammer is about the streakiest player I've ever seen, so I'm always amazed whenever she manages to string together more than a couple wins. She's been written off and come back about as many times as a player of her notoriety can be, and yet keeps managing to put up surprising results.

She's defending quarterfinalist points at the US Open, and while I'd be surprised to see her make the second week, it's certainly not out of the question should the right draw fall her way.

I don't think too much can be read into this win, but it is cool, just a few days before Kim Clijsters makes her comeback, to see another mom on the tour still getting it done.

Ladies' Quarterfinals Preview

The men get the day off on Tuesday, leaving the women to carry the day. Each match features a top four seed, meaning that we could get the top four ranked players in the world in the semifinals, which would be the first time that had happened on the women's side this decade.

CENTRE - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Dinara Safina (RUS) [1] 1 vs Sabine Lisicki (GER) 26
A perplexing battle between an underperformer and an overperformer. It's tough to say who will win, but based on who has been playing closer to their best, it would have to be Lisicki. I think Safina's difficulties on grass will finally catch up with her against the flat hitting, aggressive, courageous German, and she'll be the sole spoiler to the top four party in the semis.
Prediction: Lisicki in three.

2. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [8] 97 vs Serena Williams (USA) [2] 128
This one could be quite the bloody affair. The two met in the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year, with Azarenka winning the first set then retiring midway through the second due to vertigo symptoms. It was a mess. Azarenka was a different type of mess in her fourth round win over Petrova yesterday, throwing a general tantrum the entire time yet still managing to power her way into her first Wimbledon quarterfinal. Serena, for her part, has looked great this entire tournament, but she hasn't faced anyone near Azarenka's caliber. This one could go into overtime.
Prediction: Williams in three.

COURT 1 - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Venus Williams (USA) [3] 33 vs Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [11] 49
Serena got the opportunity to dismantle Radwanska in last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals, so it's only fair that Venus should get the chance to do so this year. Venus has been hitting the ball very cleanly, and Radwanska has no weapons that Venus won't be able to pound her way through.
Prediction: Williams in two.

2. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 74 vs Elena Dementieva (RUS) [4] 96
Elena Dementieva's soft draw continues. Two veteran players, neither of whom was talked about much going into this tournament, face off for a spot in the semis, where they will undoubtedly lose meekly to the Serena-Azarenka winner. Dementieva's game is much more stable, and should hold up better to the pressures of the occasion.
Prediction: Dementieva in two.