Serena and Venus to battle for title in Doha

It will be Serena Williams and older sister Venus Williams who will fight for the crown in Doha, as they both won their semifinals matches, Serena getting through after her opponent, Caroline Wozniacki retired, and Venus getting through after three tough sets of battling against Jelena Jankovic.

Serena was able to come back from 0-2 in the first set against her Danish opponent to win the set with a close score. In the second set, Wozniacki retired after winning the first game of the match with a abdominal injury. The final score was 64 01.

"She's been struggling throughout the tournament," Williams said. "Just to come out today and try to put up a fight for the crowd, it's so good to see a face like hers on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She's an incredible fighter."

"It was just too much for me to keep playing," Wozniacki said. "I could either smile or cry, so I chose to smile. There's nothing else you can do. I had a great year. I did all I could. I used all the strength I had left. Today I just didn't have any left. I've learned that I'm a huge fighter and impossible is nothing."

Venus lost the first set against her Serbian opponent, but regained strength and bounced back to win the next two sets. The final score was 57 64 63.

"The crowd really helped me through it," said Williams, who won her very first season-ending title right here in Doha a year ago. "It was great. In the first set I couldn't feel the ball; coming back from not being able to get a ball in to beat such a consistent player like Jelena is great. It's my last tournament of the year so I'm giving 1000%."

Serena leads the head-to-head series with a score of 12-10 to Venus, the last match being a couple of days ago, which Serena won in three tough sets.

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Singles - Semifinal
(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 64 01 ret. (left abdominal strain)
(7) Venus Williams (USA) d. (8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 57 63 64

Venus back in; Wozniacki, Jankovic into other semifinals

Venus Williams will be back to play the semifinals after Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Elena Dementieva in straight sets, while Victoria Azarenka retired in her match against Agnieszka Radwanska to give Caroline Wozniacki and Jelena Jankovic spots in the semifinals.

Dementieva was fighting for a spot in the semifinal herself, but gave it away to Williams after losing the match against Kuznetsova with a score of 63 62.

"There was still a lot to lose today," Kuznetsova said. "Doesn't matter if I don't qualify. There are ranking points, prize money, everything... it's still a lot. When I go on court, I bring my name. I definitely don't want to lose, no matter what.

"I asked Venus before the match, 'Would you give me something if I win?' She was like, 'If you win, it's good for yourself!'"

Jankovic had no trouble in her match against Wozniacki, crushing the Dane with a score of 62 62.

Radwanska was able to pull of a win over Azarenka despite being down a set and 2-5 in the second set. The Pole then took a quick lead in the third set, when at 4-1, Azarenka retired with a leg injury.

Serena Williams will play Wozniacki in the semifinal, and Venus will play Jankovic for a spot in the final.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Singles - Round Robin

MAROON GROUP
(3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. (5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 63 62

WHITE GROUP
(8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 62 62
(10) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 46 75 41 ret. (cramping)

Venus wins match to keep hopes alive for spot in semifinal: Serena goes 3-0 on Day 3 in Doha

Venus Williams was able to close out and win her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova to keep her hopes alive for a semifinal entrance, while Serena Williams improved her round robin score to 3-0 after beating Elena Dementieva in straight sets.

Williams won her match with a score of 62 67(3) 64, which makes her get a round robin score of 1-2.

"The last couple of matches I tried to learn from my mistakes," Williams said. "When I make a mistake, I try to learn from it instead of get frustrated by it."

Williams had lost tight three-setters to Elena Dementieva and Serena Williams in her first two round robin matches and needed to win Thursday to keep her hopes of advancing to the semifinal round alive.

"My first two matches were close - one point here or there and I could have three wins instead of one," Williams added. "I guess that's the beauty of round robin. Just win as much as you can. It can get a little frustrating going into a match at 0-2... but I stayed positive."

In the White Group on Friday, Caroline Wozniacki plays Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka plays Agnieszka Radwanska. The first match of the day pits Wozniacki against Jankovic - if Wozniacki wins that, then Wozniacki and Azarenka get the two berths, no matter how the second match goes. If Jankovic wins that, then Jankovic gets the first berth, and Azarenka will need to win her match to get the second berth (otherwise Wozniacki will get it).


Thursday, October 29, 2009

Singles - Round Robin

WHITE GROUP
(4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (9) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) 60 67(3) 64

MAROON GROUP
(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. (5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 62 64
(7) Venus Williams (USA) d. (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 62 67(3) 64

Serena ousts Venus in three sets; Safina exits Doha after suffering back injury on Day 2 in Qatar

Maroon Group: Serena Williams was able to take a big lead in her round robin results, as she ousted older sister Venus in three sets to have a 2-0 lead, 57 64 76(4), which automatically brings her to the semis, while Venus has 0-2, and will not play in the semis, even if she wins her third match.

Other contenders in the Maroon Group include Elena Dementieva, who has a 1-0 score after winning to Venus on Day 1 of the Championships, and Svetlana Kuznetsova, who is 0-1, after losing to Serena on Day 1 also.

White Group: Victoria Azarenka suffered a loss against Caroline Wozniacki in three sets, 16 64 75, despite having a match point at 5-4 in the third set. Her score is now 1-1, and her third match will decide if she goes into the semis or not. Wozniacki's score is now 1-0, and if she wins her second match, the Dane will continue to the semis.

Jelena Jankovic scored a win with a score of 1-1 over Dinara Safina for a 1-1 round robin score, as the Russian No. 1 in the world retired from the match with a back injury and exited Doha because of not being able to play any more matches.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Singles - Round Robin

WHITE GROUP
(8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (1) Dinara Safina (RUS) 11 ret. (low back injury)
(4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 16 64 75

MAROON GROUP
(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. (7) Venus Williams (USA) 57 64 76(4)