Ashley plays in her first round match today at the Pacific Life
Open. Ashley will face Vasilisa Bardina from Russia in the opening
round. I don't know anything much about Bardina. I will assume
Ashley can and probably should beat her. However Ashley is
susceptible to losing to the unknowns, especially in the first
round.

Now, should Ashley get past the first round, she has a great draw and
she should go a few rounds at this tournament.

Peng shouldn't be a problem at all, Ashley recently beat her
already. I've seen Peng play, if she can get up in the rankings as
high as she has, why isn't Ashley there?

The next opponent would likely be Bammer, Ashley lost to her the last
time but has defeated Bammer in the past. Ashley probably should
beat her three out of four chances, so it's Ash's turn again and it's
on a hard court this time.

You would suspect Ivanovic to show in the Quarters. Ivanovic won't
be so easy, not as though the other matches will be easy but Ashley
is probably favored in two of the previous three and won't be favored
against Ivanovic. However Ashley will have a fighting chance against
Ivanovic with a shot at the Semi's.

Getting to the round of 16 should be the minimum goal for Ashley in
this tournament with it all gravy thereafter and she has a good shot
at sopping up some of that gravy. Even Petrova or Golovin wouldn't
be safe against Ashley should she get to the quarters. Her
confidense would be high enough by then that she could challenger
either and with both of those girls known to fall apart on occasion
who knows?