Wildcards always seem to have a way to surprise. Maybe that’s why they are given wildcards. Stupid me!

Angela Haynes, a wild-card entrant from nearby Irvine, overcame a 4-0 first-set deficit to beat Italy’s Sara Errani 7-5, 6-2 on Wednesday in the first round of the Pacific Life Open.
The 23-year-old Haynes, ranked 221st, was playing just her third WTA match of the year. She will face defending champion Daniela Hantuchova in the second round. Hantuchova is trying to become the first player to win the event three times.

Ashley Harkleroad also advanced, beating the Ukraine’s Tatiana Perebiynis 6-2, 6-0. Jill Craybas edged Czech qualifier Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 7-6 (2), 6-4, while Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova beat Meilen Tu 6-4, 6-2. In the day’s final singles match, France’s Stephanie Cohen-Aloro routed Lilia Osterloh, 6-1, 6-2.

All 32 seeded players have first-round byes. Hantuchova is seeded fifth behind Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova.

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Andy Roddick won his 25th title; his second this year after he beat Feliciano Lopez to 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 6-2 win at the Barclays Dubai Open. Spaniard Lopez won the first set on a tie-break but Roddick, who earlier this week announced he had split from his coach Jimmy Connors was back again to clinch the title. The match was a brilliant show of performance by both individuals, a match worthy of the finals. Feliciono Lopez was the surprise package of the tournament, the unseeded Lopez advanced to the finals after beating number five seed Nikolay Davydenko. Lopez has surprised many on his way to the finals beating top ten players with determination and aplomb.

Roddick has been on a roll even though his coach has Jimmy Connors has left just few days before the finals. Roddick played some of the best tennis to move forward to the finals, having beaten both Djokovic - the world number three - and second-ranked Rafael Nadal on consecutive days. Watch out for Roddick in the coming tournaments as he is all set to proving himself this year.

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Nadal is at his best again and others better watch out. Defending champion Rafael Nadal kicked off his title defence at the Pacific Life Open on Saturday with a 6-3 6-3 victory against qualifier Santiago Giraldo of Colombia. The going looks good for Nadal and this may be his title again for keeps this year again. At least that’s what all his fans are wishing for.

The second-seeded Spaniard won the first of his six titles last season at Indian Wells with victory over Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and will take his next step to opening his 2008 account in the third round against American Donald Young, who defeated 32nd seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain, 6-4 6-7 (3/7) 6-2.

Nadal, 21, is hoping to keep the pressure on world number one Roger Federer at the top of the world rankings after moving to within 350 points of the Swiss ace. Federer opens his challenge against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez on Sunday. This is probably the closest Nadal has come to Federer and at this point, the former is playing at this best, while Federer is not.

This is what all his fans echoed, “All the best.”

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