Dubai, UAE  - Challenger Virginie Razzano relaxed with a luxury spa treatment followed by a calming glass of beer the night before before facing Venus Williams for the title at the Barclays Championships on Saturday.

The number 58 with two career titles from 2007 is not one to worry too much about the immediate future after crushing Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-1, 6-2.

Venus Williams advanced over her world number one sibling as they met for the 19th time, winning 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Dubai, UAE  - French surprise packet Virginie Razzano will relax with her boyfriend and a calming glass of beer before facing Venus Williams for the title at the Barclays Championships on Saturday.

The number 58 with two career titles from 2007 is not one to worry too much about the immediate future after crushing Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 6-1, 6-2.

Venus Williams advanced over her world number one sibling as they met for the 19th time, winning 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (7-3).

Dubai, UAE  - Rafael Nadal joined Roger Federer on the injury list for next week's Barclays Championships, with the Spanish No. 1 pulling out on Thursday to rest from a knee injury.

Nadal's website said that he had to cancel his trip to Dubai due to doctor's orders.

Separately, Federer withdrew with a back injury, which will also cause him to skip Switzerland's Davis Cup tie in Alabama against the United States March 6-8.

Dubai, UAE - Fears that next week's ATP Barclays Championships in Dubai might have been scrapped in a visa dispute for an Israeli player was solved on Thursday, local media reported.

The WAM agency reported that doubles player Andy Ram has been given a visa into the Gulf emirate less than a week after compatriot Shahar Peer's similar request was denied for a women's WTA event.

The controversy which erupted has included calls from American Jewish groups to remove Dubai from the professional tennis calendar.

Dubai, UAE  - Serena Williams eased through in her first match since withdrawing from a Paris semi-final, overcoming a slow start to get past Sara Errani 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 at the Barclays Championships on Tuesday.

The world number one Australian Open champion had withdrawn in France due to knee pain but showed little sign of discomfort against Errani for a place in the third round.

Williams needed to kick into gear after losing the opening set, storming in the second but double-faulting away two set points in the seventh game.

Dubai, UAE - World number two Dinara Safina has written off her 6-4, 6-2 opening defeat Tuesday at the Barclays Championships as a "bad day" as the Russian failed to recover after losing the Australian Open final.

Victory by Virginie Razzano of France marked the second straight loss for the Russian, who said she was well off her game.

"It was not my day, I just couldn't play my game," said Safina, who had won three of four matches against the number 58 Razzano. "I played worse in this loss than I did in Melbourne."