WTA Oct 26-31: WTA Champ's WTA Championships, Doha, Qatar PREMIER $4,550,000 8RR/0q/4d outdoor: hard   Plexipave Free Live Video? Live Scores - in popup window draws: WTA: main - OOP pics: DL - Y!: sports - news - WTA interviews - Doha: forecast Champ's qualifying standings #1 Caroline Wozniacki 7270 points #2 Vera Zvonareva 6096 #4 Kim Clijsters 5295 #6 Francesca Schiavone 4595 #7 Samantha Stosur 4572 #8 Jelena Jankovic 4236 #9 Elena Dementieva 4085 #10 Victoria Azarenka 3595 alternates: #11 Na Li 3541 #13 Shahar Peer 3365

Tourney pages: WTA Championships: 2009 - 2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 previous other tourney pages next Doha: #1 Caroline Wozniacki 5' 10" 128lb RH 2H-BH Doha: #4 Kim Clijsters 5' 8½" 150lb RH 2H-BH

    On Sunday in Doha, Qatar, in the final of the 2010 WTA Championships, the US Open champion, 26-year-old 3rd seeded #4 (and former #1) Kim Clijsters from Bree, Belgium, defeated 20-year-old top-seeded #1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco), 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 (Caroline is shown during the match, Kim is shown holding the Billie Jean King Cup).

    Kim's prize is $1,450,000; Caroline's prize is $680,000. Despite the loss, Caroline had already secured enough points to end the year ranked #1.

    Kim won 106 points; Caroline won 102. Kim scored on 6 of the 14 break points she reached against Caroline; Caro converted only 4 of 12 break point opportunities she held against Kim.

    As Kim served for the match while leading 5-3 in the 3rd set, Caroline had an opportunity to get back on serve, holding 2 break points as Kim fell behind 15-40. But Kim fended off those two break points, and another, before delivering a forehand winner on her second match point.

    Kim said: "At the moment I'm kind of relieved it's over. It seemed like it would never end. It was a tough battle. We showed some great tennis and some great fitness—I think we showed the crowd some great women's tennis tonight." WTA story

    Caroline said: "I gave my all today. I couldn't have played better. I haven't thought about the match yet, but I'm going to look back and learn from it for sure. I've still had a fantastic year, winning six tournaments and beating so many good players. Right now I'm going to enjoy my break."

    Kim and Caroline had met only once before, in the final of last year's US Open, when Kim defeated Caroline (who was slowed by leg problems), 7-5, 6-3.

    2005, 2009 & 2010 US Open champ Kim, who retired in May, 2007, and returned to play in August, 2009, is now 39-16 in WTA singles finals; she also won at Cincinnati, Miami & Brisbane this year. Kim had a 30-6 singles match record in 2010.

    2009 US Open finalist Caroline is now 12-8 in WTA singles finals; she won this year at Beijing, Tokyo, New Haven, Montreal, Copenhagen, and Ponte Vedra Beach, and reached the Indian Wells final. Caroline ends the year with a 62-17 singles match record, and was 32-4 during the post-Wimbledon hard court season.

2010 WTA Championships Singles Round Robin Standings: name in bold = clinched place in semifinals Maroon Group matches W-L sets W-L games W-L #7 Samantha Stosur 2-1 5-2 40-31 #1 Caroline Wozniacki clinched year end #1 2-1 4-3 34-22 #6 Francesca Schiavone 1-2 3-4 28-31 #9 Elena Dementieva 1-2 2-5 24-40 White Group matches W-L sets W-L #2 Vera Zvonareva 3-0 6-0 #4 Kim Clijsters 2-1 4-3 #10 Victoria Azarenka 1-2 3-4 #8 Jelena Jankovic 0-3 0-6         1st Alternate: #11 Na Li         2nd Alternate: #13 Shahar Peer

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The four doubles teams have been determined:
cdr5 Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta v cdr11 Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova
cdr11 Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik v cdr25 Lisa Raymond & Rennae Stubbs

The WTA Championships System:     Eight top players are selected for singles play in the WTA Championships, based on all the ranking points they have earned during the current WTA Tour season (this differs slightly from the WTA Rankings, which only include a maximum of 17 tourneys in the point totals).     2 groups, White and Maroon (aka Burgundy—and the colors used for names have changed three times in recent years), play in a round-robin format (12 matches), with two winners from each group becoming semifinalists who play off on Saturday. In the semis, the player who finishes first in each group will play the second place finisher from the other group.     If players win the same number of matches, the winner of their head-to-head match in the round robin is placed higher in the standings. 3-way ties will be resolved first by the percentage of sets won, then by the percentage of games won.     Players who qualify for the WTA Championships (in singles) all will receive at least $100,000; the champion receives $1,150,000, plus $100,000 for each match they won in the round robin.     4 doubles teams also play, with no prelims.

WTA SCOREBOARD: WTA Championships s=seed, #=rank, *=upset ranks are for the current week WTA Championships,  Doha, Qatar   tourney time:    = GMT +4 hours    = US ET +7hrs (final +8hrs)    = US PT +10hrs (final +11hrs) Qatar News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     WTA Championships: Eight players qualify for the WTA Championships: those who have amassed the most ranking points in the calendar year 2008. They play a 12-match round robin in 2 groups, and the top two players in each group advance to the semifinals.   click for broader view   Khalifa Tennis Complex Latitude: 25.313125 Longitude: 51.51507 goto link for World Wind Doha city map, .pdf - venue area map, .pdf - venue map, .pdf     Centre court at Khalifa Tennis Complex holds 4,106 spectators. For the 15th Asian Games in December 2006, eight new training courts were built. More expansion was planned for the 2008 and 2009 WTA Championships. 2010: On Sunday, October 24, in Doha, Francesca Schiavone, Kim Clijsters, Vera Zvonareva, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva, and Samantha Stosur attended the WTA Championships draw and dinner (Victoria Azarenka could not attend because she was busy winning the Moscow title on Sunday; she arrived in Doha at about 1:30am local time Monday morning)... About the dinner, alternate Shahar Peer said: "Was a nice party! I had good time and got nice present :-)" Shahar Peer at Twitter... row 2: On Monday, Samantha, Vera, Elena, Caroline, Kim, Francesca, Jelena and row 3: Victoria mugged for the cameras while recording their palmprints for posterity, after which Vika reported "no chocolate mess," and Kim related the experience a "touchy, feely kind of thing"... All of the Elite Eight, including #1 Caroline, met the press on Monday, giving them a chance to voice their views on the snappy new WTA logo, which de-emphasizes WTA Tour sponsor SonyEricsson, simplifying the WTA brand... Doha WTA Champ's round robin, Tue 5pm #1 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #9 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-1, 6-1 Caroline serving, Elena follwing a forehand, Caro driving a backhand, and after match point     Caroline said: "Very nice start, definitely. I'm very happy to be through this first match. It's always tough to start a new tournament. We have had so many tough matches in the past. It's nice to get this one." postmatch interview     Elena has missed some practice while recovering from an ankle injury. Elena said: "My ankle is much better. I think the fact that I was not able to practice for a couple of days because I really needed to rest it, you know, really affected the way I was moving today.     "I feel I was really affected by the weather conditions. I was going for the wrong shots all the time. Usually it's not happening to me very often.     "But I'm sure I will play better next match. It was, you know, quite tough experience today. Caroline played very solid, as usually she does this season. For me, it was not a good match." postmatch interview #2 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #8 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6-3, 6-0 Vera serving, Jelena following a backhand, Vera driving a forehand, and after match point     Jelena is clearly still feeling the effects of illness which led to her early defeat at Beijing and Moscow, and for which she has been taking antibiotics.     Vera said: "I played a very good match overall... It is humid, but, you know, conditions, I don't really mind the conditions. I like to play in the heat and humidity. It didn't really bother me today." postmatch interview *#7 Samantha Stosur AUS d #6 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-4, 6-4 Samantha serving, Francesca launching a backhand, Samantha driving one, and after match point     Samantha trailed 0-4 at the start of the 1st set. Samantha said: "[Francesca] came out playing pretty well. I was kind of not doing anything. So from that point, just tried to slow down a little bit, take my time, and play point by point. Obviously one game turned into two, three, and started feeling a lot better and knew I was back in the match then. I really started playing well towards the end of that first set." postmatch interview     Francesca said: "I think was close, but at the start I was really consistent and aggressive. Then I lost my serve on 4-0, I was 15-Love and I missed one ball in front of the net like this, and I did a bad mistake. But then [Samantha served] better. I think I lost my chance in the most important points, and then she grew up a lot and was not so easy. But always really close match." postmatch interview Doha WTA Champ's round robin, Wed 5pm *#7 Samantha Stosur AUS d #1 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-4, 6-3 career matches: Samantha leads 3-2 Samantha serving, Caroline and Samantha driving backhand and forehand, and Sam after match point #2 Vera Zvonareva RUS v #10 Victoria Azarenka BLR 7-6(4), 6-4 career matches: Vera leads 6-2 Vera serving, Victoria about to swat a backhand, Vera driving a forehand, and after match point     Vera said: "Very tough match against Vika tonight. She is always difficult to play against but I was able to pull out the win 7-6, 6-4. Next match will be a US Open Final rematch against Kim Clijsters!" Vera Zvonareva at Facebook #4 Kim Clijsters BEL d #8 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6-2, 6-3 career matches: Kim leads 7-1 Kim driving a forehand, Jelena launching one on the run, and Kim's backhand drive Doha WTA Champ's round robin, Thu 5pm AP story #1 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #6 Francesca Schiavone ITA 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 career matches: tied 2-2 Caroline serving, Francesca driving a forehand, Caro driving a backhand, and after match point     The win clinched a place in the WTA Championships semifinals for Caroline, and slso guaranteed that she will end the year ranked #1 in the world.     Caroline said: "Francesca was playing really, really good in the first set and I didn't have too many chances to break her. I just hung in there and kept my focus and tried to get a little more aggressive and not let her dictate the game and that helped me through." postmatch interview #4 Kim Clijsters BEL d #10 Victoria Azarenka BLR 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 career matches: Kim leads 3-1 Kim and Vika driving forehands, and Kim serving     The win by Kim, and the loss by Victoria, clinched the White Group places in Saturday's semifinals for Kim, and for this year's US Open and Wimbledon finalist, 2nd-seeded #2 Vera Zvonareva. *#9 Elena Dementieva RUS d #7 Samantha Stosur AUS 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) career matches: Elena leads 5-2 Elena serving, Samantha running down a forehand, Elena following one, and after match point     If Elena defeats Francesca Schiavone on Friday night, she will be tied with Samantha and Caroline at 2-1 in Maroon Group matches. But despite today's loss, Samantha has won the Maroon Group by virtue of highest percentage of sets won (5-2, 71%). And even if Elena defeats Francesca 6-0, 6-0, she cannot displace Caroline Wozniacki. Both Elena and Caroline would be 4-3 in sets, but Caro is 34-22, 60% in percentage of games won, and the best Elena could do in this department, if she double-bagels Francesca on Friday, is 30-28, 52%.     Elena said: "I was trying to improve my game coming in this match. Playing someone who had a great win last night, I was trying to fight for every point and it feels great to win 7-6 in the third." postmatch interview Doha WTA Champ's round robin, Fri 5pm #2 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #4 Kim Clijsters BEL 6-4, 7-5 Vera serving, Kim and Vera driving backhands, and Vera after match point     Vera said: "Played a solid match today against Kim and won 6-4, 7-5. I started each set a little slow and got down early but was able to fight back. Looking forward to playing Caroline again in the semifinals." Vera Zvonareva at Facebook #6 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #9 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-4, 6-2 Francesca serving, Elena driving a forehand, Francesca running one down and after match point, and Elena snnouncing her retirement while other players look on Elena's Retirement: Elena with Olympic Gold       On Friday in Doha, the Beijing 2008 Olympic gold medalist, (and this year's champ at the Paris Indoor and at Sydney), 29-year-old #10 (career-high: #3) Elena Dementieva of Russia, announced her immediate retirement from professional tennis.     Elena made the announcement (which she had planned in advance, but without notifying the press) after losing to Francesca Schaivone in the 1st match of the evening.     Elena finishes her career with a 576-273 singles match record, 41-18 this year.     She has won over fourteen million dollars in prize money, and reached two Grand Slam singles finals, at Roland Garros and the US Open, both in 2004.     Speaking to players assembled for the retirement ceremony, Elena said: "It is so emotional. It is so hard to say good bye. I am going to miss you so much." CBC story     Vera Zvonareva said: "Russia is proud of you, and proud of what you have done. Not only for Russian tennis, but for Russian sport you have been an inspiration." AFP story     Caroline Wozniacki said: "An emotional day today seeing Dementieva retire! She was such a fantastic player and a role model for everybody both on and off the court!"     Svetlana Kuznetsova said: "It's been an amazing career for Elena! I'll miss her, we had always a lot to talk and laugh about! And also a lot of long and good matches!"     Kim Clijsters said: "[Elena] has been the most professional of players, one of the nicest girls on the court... She brought elegance,kindness, discipline and beautiful tennis to the tour! I will miss having her around because there are not many like her."     Victoria Azarenka said: "Its a very very special day today! I couldn't believe when I heard that one of my favourite persons on tour is going to retire. I was dehydrated from crying and emotions:) I think Elena had an amazing career and she is gonna be missed by all the people around the world."     Flavia Pennetta & Gisela Dulko said: "Elena Dementieva retired, emotional good bye ceremony today in Doha, great player and a great person as well, we will miss her a lot!" photo     Yaroslava Shvedova said: "Elena retired! I was crying so was everyone! She is the nicest person, great player & hard worker. So sad she's leaving us!" photo     Shahar Peer said: "It was very emotional tonight with Elena retirement... She is one of the biggest women tennis players ever... I wish her all the best :-)."     Julia Goerges said: "All the best to Elena! A great athlete and person retired from tennis! Wish her all the best in the 'new life.'"     Anne Keothavong said: "So sad to see Elena Dementieva retire. Such a nice person and a great player."     Alina Jidkova said: "It takes guts to say goodbye to a sport that has been your life! I am proud of you as I am proud of all the Russian girls who made it!"     Laura Robson said: "Really sad seeing Dementieva retire today. Amazing player, amazing person."     Michaella Krajicek said: "All the best to you Elena!!!" #10 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #8 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6-4, 6-1 Victoria serving, and Jelena and Vika driving backhands alternates prizes: $50,000 RR no wins prizes: $100,000 US; points: 210 - RR 1 win 2 losses prizes: $200,000 US; points: 370 RR 2 wins 1 loss prizes: $300,000 US; points: 530 - RR 3 wins prizes: $400,000 US; points: 690

Doha WTA Championships, SFs, Sat 5:30pm+ #1 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d #2 Vera Zvonareva RUS 7-5, 6-0 career matches Caroline leads 4-3 Caroline's service toss, Vera launching a forehand on the run, Caroline about to swat one, and after match point     Despite the loss, Vera earned enough ranking points in the tourney to finish the year at #2, the highest rank of her career. Caroline, similarly, has secured enough points to end the year ranked #1 regardless of the outcome of Sunday's final.     Vera said: "I feel like in the beginning of the second set I lost a little bit of concentration, and gave [Caroline] three games right away. Then I think it was a little bit too late. She was already dominating the second set. Against a player like Caroline you can't give her so many mistakes." WTA story     Vera also fell behind 1-4 at the start of the match, but then won four straight games, and served for the 1st set.     Caroline said: "I was up 4-1 in the first set, and suddenly [Vera] had two set points...     "Right now I'm just going to enjoy this moment. I'm in the finals and it's a huge tournament. We'll see what I come up with tomorrow." #4 Kim Clijsters BEL d #7 Samantha Stosur AUS 7-6(3), 6-1 career matches Kim leads 5-0 Kim twisting a serve, Samantha running one down, Kim driving a backhand, and after match point     Kim said: "Today I was able to play well on the important points. That's what helped me win the first set. In the second set I think [Samantha's] level dropped a little bit."     Samantha said: "That's what happens when you play against the best in the world. You have to play absolutely at the peak. If you drop off just that little bit, you get punished for it. I had the set point and [Kim] hit a ball right on the line. You have to say 'too good' on shots like that. She deserved to win it in the end."

Doha WTA Championships, Final, Sun 6pm loser's prize: RR prize + $380,000 US; points: RR points + 180 winner's prize: RR prize + $1,150,000 US; points: RR points + 405 *#4 Kim Clijsters BEL d #1 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 career matches Kim leads 2-0 Kim's service toss, Caroline running down a backhand, Kim driving a forehand, and after match point

Doha WTA Championships, Doubles SFs, Sat 3pm loser's prize: $93,750 cdr5 Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta v cdr11 Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova 6-4, 6-4 cdr11 Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik d cdr25 Lisa Raymond & Rennae Stubbs 7-6(6), 6-3 Doha WTA Championships, Doubles Final, Sun 8pm+ loser's prize: $187,500 winner's prize: $375,000 cdr5 Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta d cdr11 Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 6-4 Flavia (13th WTA doubles title) and Gisela (16th WTA doubles title) after the victory, their 9th title as a team, and they end the year as the #1 double team in the WTA

    (October 11, 2010 revised Oct 19) WTA #2 (and former #1) Serena Williams has withdrawn from the WTA Championships and is done for the season AP story. Serena cut her feet on broken glass at a restaurant in Europe in July, causing her to miss this year's US Open. She was to return to play at Linz, Austria, but withdrew after reinjuring her right foot while training in Florida.

    On Oct 11, in a post on her official website, Serena said: "I am likely out for the year now... In order not to make this worse, I have to chill on my physical workouts but I will immediately begin rehabbing as soon as I get the Doc's OK." AP story

    Serena's injuries originally required 18 stiches, 12 on her right foot and 6 on her left foot, and surgery on her right foot to repair a torn toe tendon. USA Today interview

    Serena cut her foot after her Wimbledon title victory on July 3, and the injury was at first not thought to be serious. Serena then lost to Kim Clijsters in an exhibition in Belgium on July 8. Asked how she was able to play the exhibition with the injury, Serena said: "Those Belgian doctors and waffles."

    Serena underwent surgery in Los Angeles on July 15. Serena had previously withdrawn from three tourneys leading up to the US Open and from all of her 2010 World Team Tennis matches due to the injury. AP story - July 20 AP update - original AP story

    (Oct 7, 2010) WTA #3 (and former #1) Venus Williams is done for the season due to a left knee injury which has troubled her for most of the past six months. Venus will miss both the year end WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar, and the USA v Italy Fed Cup final.

    Venus said: "I have been getting treatment and therapy on my knee and have been making progress, but unfortunately must continue to keep weight off my knee for the short term and won't be ready to return to competition in 2010,'' Williams said. "I am looking forward to returning to full health in time for the start of 2011 season and hopefully having the opportunity to play in both the Fed Cup and WTA Championships next year." AP story

See also: QuickShop: Sporting Goods - Martina Hingis - Anna Kournikova

Current WTA Results & Tennis News (tennis home page) - 2010 WTA Schedule with links & photos

Link to many postmatch interview & match highlight videos of WTA players at the 2009 WTA Player Videos page.

WTA PhotoRankings: the current top 20 Women's Tennis rankings with player photos, links, and bio info.