March(ing) in Like a Lioness...

...and marching out like a lioness with another trophy, her eyes on even bigger prey and with all those who seek to hunt her down left quaking a little in their boots (even if they'd never admit it).

That's how Serena Williams approached and exited March.



The WTA computer says she's the #11-ranked player in the world. Well, at least it's half right. Drop one of those "1's" and it'd be more accurate.

**MARCH AWARDS**

*PLAYERS OF THE MONTH*
1. Serena Williams
...she's the Gwen Stefani of the WTA tour. The best player? "No doubt."
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2. Daniela Hantuchova
...I hope Wonder Girl owns some property in Indian Wells.
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3. Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur
...Indian Wells? Got it. Miami? Did it.
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4. Justine Henin
...close only gets you a hug and a pat on the back. But Justine knows that already.
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5. Shahar Peer
...suddenly she's the tour's top bridesmaid.
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*RISERS*
1. Daniela Hantuchova
2. Shahar Peer
3. Anna Chakvetadze
4. Vera Zvonareva
5. Na Li
HM- Nicole Vaidisova

*SURPRISES*
1. Sybille Bammer
2. Kateryna Bondarenko
3. Naomi Cadavy
4. Melissa Torres-Sandoval
5. Sara Errani

*VETERANS*
1. Lisa Raymond
2. Cara Black & Liezel Huber
3. Tathiana Garbin
4. Emilie Loit
5. Laura Granville

*FRESH FACES*
1. Evgenia Linetskaya
2. Agnieszka Radwanska
3. Vera Dushevina
4. Alize Cornet
5. Casey Dell'Acqua
HM- Caroline Wozniacki

*DOWN*
1. Maria Sharapova
2. Martina Hingis
3. Iva Majoli
4. Anna-Lena Groenefeld
5. Tatiana Golovin

*COMEBACK PLAYERS*
1. Evgenia Linetskaya
2. Mirjana Lucic
3. Zsofia Gubacsi

TOP PERFORMANCE: Five years after causing a commotion by winning her first career title in Indian Wells, Daniela Hantuchova finally wins her second career title... once again in Indian Wells.
BEST MATCH - Miami F - S.Williams d. Henin
...0-6/7-5/6-3. Two match points equals does not equal two earrings that say "Serena" on them.
BIGGEST UPSET - Ind.Wells 4th - Zvonareva d. Sharapova
...4-6/7-5/6-1. No, it wasn't exactly an earth-shattering upset, especially not with Sharapova's 13 double-faults and her collapse after serving at 6-4/5-3. A match like this has been on the Supernova's radar since January. But still.
MATCH THAT VIRGINIE RAZZANO MOST WANTS TO FORGET: Mia 3rd - Henin d. Razzano
...6-2/2-6/7-6. Razzano led 5-1 in the 3rd, was two points from the match on Henin's serve at 6-5, then led 2-0 in the tie-break. Ouch.

BEST STAT: Shahar Peer lost to both the eventual champions of Indian Wells (Hantuchova) and Miami (S.Williams). The same thing happened in Gold Coast (Safina), Sydney (Clijsters), Oz (Serena) and Memphis (Venus, in the final). That's six of her seven events on the season.

MOST SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT: Venus & Serena are still committed to play in the U.S. Fed Cup Team's 1st Round tie. Zina Garrison is STILL crossing her fingers.
LEAST SURPRISING DEVELOPMENT: Maria Sharapova, with shoulder and hamstring and confidence and serving problems, is NO LONGER committed to play in Russia's Fed Cup tie this month.

==MARCH POINTS OF INTEREST==
1. Henin returns to the #1 ranking
2. Serena vs. the heckler
3. Clijsters' schedule for '07
4. Mauresmo's appendicitis
5. Maria's troubling times

CURSED?: Maria Sharapova
CURSE-PROOF? CURSED, TOO?: Justine Henin.

In any case, bring on April!

All for now.


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TOMORROW: 1st Quarter Awards