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Osterloh boots ill Bartoli

Continued

Mal Taam/MALTphoto

Marion Bartoli's continuing injury problems were not helped by Lilia Osterloh's game.

"I wanted to be between 20 and 30 and the last two years I was there," she said. "My goal was to get to stay inside the 20 or close to it. That's a goal and I'm trying to achieve still, but I'm pretty happy where I am because the competition is very tough and it's hard to be there and stay there so I appreciate having the high ranking. I know myself and what I'm capable of doing. I'm a hard worker, and since I changed coaches two-and-a-half years [ago], I really improved my level and I'm getting 100 percent of myself so if I [had the ability] to get to Top 10, I'd already be there. Some goals are just too high to reach. You always set the bar and try to reach it, and then make another [height], but finally, it's the end and you can't go over."

Srebotnik says that by being a realist, she maintains a healthy emotional balance.

"Everyone is different and some players want to be No. 1 and that's fair enough, but I'm not like that and I'd rather set realistic goals I can achieve and if I don't, I'm not so disappointed because I do my best and at end of day if I don't make it, I know I did everything I could. It doesn't just depend on me, it's also how others play. For me, I'd rather go slowly. I'm 26 years old and achieved quite a lot and even if my career ends tomorrow, I will be happy because I did pretty good."

And what does she think of the throngs of teens who enter the tour every year and set goals of becoming No. 1 and winning multiple Slams?

"It's like watching Hollywood movies - everything is possible. You see it so often and you say, wow, it could happen, but …"

Third-seed Daniela Hantuchova also came though, beating China's Peng Shuai 6-4, 6-2. With the win Hantuchova will move back into the Top 10.

SERENA, IVANOVIC OUT OF SAN DIEGO; BOW TO SD DEAD, WILL TOURNAMENT STAY AT STANFORD?
Let the pullouts continue. Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic have pulled out of next week's Acura Classic in San Diego, joining Justine Henin and Nicole Vaidisova on the sidelines.

Neither woman's pullout comes as a surprise. In the past five years, Serena has only played four California tournaments (three in LA) post-Wimbledon and is contending with a left thumb injury. Ivanovic is dealing with a left knee injury, but is said to be considering entering Carson (LA) the next week. Serena has now pulled out of four straight events: Fed Cup, Cincinnati, Stanford and San Diego.

San Diego will still feature Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic Venus Williams, Anna Chakvetadze, Nadia Petrova, Martina Hingis, Hantuchova and Bartoli.

The LA Times reported that Acura has ended its negotiations with IMG about bringing the Stanford's Bank of the West Classic to San Diego next year, which officially ends the tournament's run down south. "It's not going to happen here now," Richard Colliver, executive vice president of American Honda, told the Times.

However, the fate of the Bank of the West Classic and where it will be played two years from now remains up in the air. Tournament owner IMG and Bank of the West will hold a press conference on Sunday, likely to announce a renewal of the bank's sponsorship. However, while the tournament will be played at Stanford next year, there's no guarantee it will still be played at the university in 2009, as IMG wants some upgrades to the stadium that may not happen. Stay tuned.

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