2009 WTA Tour Championships
Encyclopedia
The 2009 WTA Tour Championships (also known as Sony Ericsson Championships – Doha 2009) was held in Doha
, Qatar
from October 27 to November 1. It was the second time the Khalifa International Tennis Complex
hosted the WTA Tour Year-End Singles and Doubles Championships
.
Women's Tennis Association(WTA) rank No. 2 Serena Williams
won her second year-end championships title, defeating sister, Venus Williams
in the final 6–2, 7–6(4). The Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives
and María José Martínez Sánchez
won the doubles event on their debut 7–6(0), 5–7, [10-7]. They defeated the World No. 1s in doubles and defending champions, Cara Black
and Liezel Huber
, in the final.
On August 5, the first qualifier for the year-end championship was announced in Dinara Safina.
Dinara Safina enjoyed a good start to the year reaching the finals of ASB Classic
losing to Elena Dementieva
6–3 2–6 6–1, followed by her second Grand Slam final. Her first on a hardcourt in the Australian Open
but was thrashed by Serena Williams
6–0 6–3. Safina then became the world no. 1 after Serena's Charleston points dropped off. She then made her 3rd final in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
but once again ended up on the losing side to Svetlana Kuznetsova
6–4 6–3. She then claimed two titles back-to-back in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia
defeating Kuznetsova winning 6–3 6–2; and in the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
defeating Caroline Wozniacki
6–2 6–4.
She then competed in her 4th straight finals and her 6th of the year at the French Open
but once again lost to Kuznetsova 6–4 6–2. She then reached the Semifinals of the Wimbledon Championships but was once again questioned for her credibility as the world no. 1 as Venus Williams
crushed her in the most dominating scoreline that a current world no. 1 has ever lost 6–1 6–0. - However she bounce back from that loss by winning the Slovenia Open
defeating Sara Errani
6-7(5) 6-1 7-5 in the final. She reached her 8th final in Cincinnati but lost to Jelena Janković
6–4 6–2. Safina struggled in the US Open
being pushed in the first and second rounds by much lower ranked players. She ended up losing to Petra Kvitová
in the third round 6–4 2–6 7–6(5).
This is Safina's 2nd appearance and is trying to win her first match as she went 0-3 last year.
On August 19 - The second qualifier was announced as Serena Williams following her semifinal appearance at the Rogers Cup
.
Serena Williams Began the year by winning the Australian Open
. She then reached the final of the Sony Ericsson Open
after defeating Venus in the semifinals to keep her no.1 ranking. Playing injured she lost to Victoria Azarenka
6-3, 6-1. From there she went on a four match losing streak, the longest of her career and lost World No. 1 ranking to Safina on April 20 to Dinara Safina
when she pulled out of Family Circle Cup. Despite a lack of preparation, Williams reached the quarterfinals of the tournament before losing to the eventual champion Kuznetsova 7–6(4), 5–7, 7–5, which ended her 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.
However she rebounded at Wimbledon
defeating Elena Dementieva
6–7(4) 7–5 8–6. The match was named by many as the best match of the year, she then claimed her third title by defeating Venus 7–6(3) 6–2.
In the US Open
, she reached the semifinals. She reclaimed the no. 1 spot for two weeks from Safina after outperforming Safina in the China Open
. This is Serena's sixth appearance and is trying to reclaim the world no. 1 from Dinara Safina. Serena won the event in 2001
and was the runner-up in 2002
and 2004
. Serena has a 10-5 record in the year-end championships.
On the 4th of September, Caroline Wozniacki
and Elena Dementieva
were the third and fourth to qualify, respectively
Elena Dementieva has enjoyed a remarkable season that was begun by winning 15 consecutive matches including titles in ASB Classic
and Medibank International Sydney
where she defeated the top two seeds Serena Williams
and Dinara Safina
, she then reached the semifinals of the Australian Open
losing to eventual champion Serena 6–3 6–4. She then reached the finals of Open GDF Suez
losing to Amélie Mauresmo
7–6(7) 2–6 6–4. At the French Open
she was upset by Samantha Stosur
after winning her match against Jelena Dokić
due to Dokić's retirement. Dementieva played one of the most memorable matches on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2009 when she was defeated by Serena Williams in the semifinals of Wimbledon (6–7(4) 7–5 8–6) in a marathon that lasted nearly three hours. Dementieva's successful hard court season was highlighted by winning the Rogers Cup
in Toronto defeating Maria Sharapova
6–4 6–3 in the finals and clinching the title of US Open Series
winner . However she was upset by Melanie Oudin
in the second round of the US Open
. Dementieva also claimed her career high this year of no. 3 for 7 weeks. This is Dementieva's 9th appearance with her best showing coming from 2000 and 2008 reaching the semifinals. She has 5-16 record in the championship coming to this years event.
Caroline Wozniacki season was highlighted by 3 titles on 3 different surfaces in MPS Group Championships
a green clay event defeating Aleksandra Wozniak
6–1 6–2, In AEGON International
a grass event defeating Virginie Razzano
7–6(5) 7–5 and in Pilot Pen Tennis
a hardcourt event defeating Elena Vesnina
6–2 6–4. Wozniacki also reached 5 other finals in the Cellular South Cup
losing to Azarenka 6–1 6–3, the Family Circle Cup
losing to Sabine Lisicki
6–2 6–4, the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
losing to Safina 6–2 6–4, the Swedish Open
losing to María José Martínez Sánchez
7–5 6–4 and her biggest achievement so reaching the finals of the US Open
her first time to reach a spot greater that the fourth round, losing to Kim Clijsters
7–5, 6–3 and reaching world no. 5. She will be competing in her 1st year-end championship. She will be making her debut at the year-end championship.
On October 5, Svetlana Kuznetsova
became the fifth qualifier.
Svetlana Kuznetsova began the year with a Quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open
where she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams
5–7 7–5 6–1 throwing of a lead in the second set. In the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Kuznetsova won her first title in two years defeating Safina 6–4 6–3, the following week she once again faced Safina in the final of Internazionali BNL d'Italia
however this time she lost 6–3 6–2. At the French Open
Kuznetsova made easy work on Safina in the final 6–4 6–2 in just 74 minutes despite struggling against Serena and Samantha Stosur
the previous rounds. The 2009 French Open
is her 2nd Major, her first being the 2004 US Open. She then had a patch of bad run then on including a third round lost at Wimbledon
losing to Lisicki 6–2 7–5 and 4th round lost to Caroline Wozniacki
2–6 7–6(5) 7–6(3) at the US Open. She then won the 2009 China Open
over Agnieszka Radwańska
6–2 6–4 this helped her regain the no. 3 ranking . This is Kuznetsova's 5th appearance and trying to rub of a 8 match losing streak at the championship. Kuznetsova has a 1-10 record in the tournaments history.
On October 9 Venus Williams
and Victoria Azarenka
qualified together as sixth and seventh qualifiers.
Venus Williams is the defending champion. Venus won back-to-back titles in the Dubai Tennis Championships
defeating Virginie Razzano
6–4 6–2. En route, she defeated Dementieva and Serena and a title in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel
defeating Flavia Pennetta
6–1 6–2 and her first clay title since May 2005. She then went to Wimbledon
as the defending champion, losing in the finals to her sister Serena 7–6(3), 6–2 after crushing world no. 1 Dinara Safina
6–1 6–0 the biggest win against a reigning world no. 1. She also reached the final in Stanford losing to Marion Bartoli
. In the Grand Slams Venus' performance was not good losing in the 2nd round of Australian Open
, 3rd round of the French Open
and 4th round of US Open. This is Venus' 4th appearance and she has never lost before the semifinals. Venus has an impressive record of 9-2 in the event.
This is Venus' 4th appearance and she has never lost before the semifinals. Venus has an impressive record of 9-2 in the event, and is the defending champion
Victoria Azarenka is enjoying her best season so far by reaching a career high no. 6. She began the year with her first career title in Brisbane International
defeating Marion Bartoli
6–3 6–1, then followed it up with titles in Cellular South Cup
defeating Wozniacki 6–1 6–3 and Sony Ericsson Open
, defeating five-time Miami champion Serena Williams. She also managed to reached the quarterfinals of the French Open
losing to Safina 1–6 6–4 6–2 and Wimbledon
losing to eventual champion Serena 6–2 6–3. She will be competing in her 1st year-end championship.
On October 22 Jelena Janković
claimed the last spot as Radwańska and Zvonareva fell early at the Kremlin Cup
.
Jelena Janković who is having a not so satisfying year, still managed to win the red clay tournament in Andalucia Tennis Experience
defeating Carla Suárez Navarro
6–3 3–6 6–3 and Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open defeating Safina 6–4 6–2. She also became the runner up at Tokyo, retiring in the final against Maria Sharapova
due to wrist injury. In Grand Slams Janković the furthest she has reached in a slam was a fourth round. Janković failed to make it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam in 2009. This Janković's 3rd appearance having her best result last year finishing in the semifinals with a 2-5 record coming to the event.
The two alternate spots were taken by Vera Zvonareva
, who had a fascinating first half of the year by reaching the semifinal of Australian Open
losing to Safina 6-3 7-6(4) and winning two titles in Pattaya Women's Open
defeating Sania Mirza
7–5 6–1, an international tournament, and Indian Wells
defeating Ana Ivanović
7–6(5) 6–2 also defeating Wozniacki 6-4 6-2 and Azarenka 6-3 6-3 en route, a Premier Mandatory tournament. She withdrew from Internazionali BNL d'Italia
, Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
and Roland Garros
with a right ankle injury. In the US Open
she lost to Flavia Pennetta
in the Fourth Round when she lost 6-0 in the third when she started whipping on court. This will be her 3rd appearance if one of the players withdraw, she has a 4-4 record at the event. The other alternate is Agnieszka Radwańska
, who had consistent results throughout the year, reaching at least the quarterfinals in twelve tournaments, including a runner-up finish at the China Open
losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova
6-2 6-4, She scored 2 top 10 wins in the year over Ana Ivanović
and Elena Dementieva
. This will be Radwańska's second appearance if a second player withdraws she has a 1-0 record at the event
On September 9 - Cara Black
and Liezel Huber
, the defending champions, were the first to qualify for the championships after their runner-up finish at Wimbledon.
Cara Black and Liezel Huber have been the no. 1 doubles team since 2007. Performing consistently during the slams, they had a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open
losing to eventual runner-ups Hantuchová
and Sugiyama
. They then made a semifinal appearance at the French Open
losing to eventual champions Medina Garrigues
and Ruano Pascual
and Wimbledon
losing to eventual champions the Williams sisters
, and reached their first major final of the year in the US Open
losing again to the Williams Sisters. Outside the majors, they won back-to-back titles at the Open GDF Suez
defeating Peschke
and Raymond
and Dubai Tennis Championships
defeating Kirilenko
and Radwańska
. They also won Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
once again outlasting Raymond and Peschke, AEGON Classic
defeating the American team of Kops-Jones
and Spears
, and Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open over Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez. They were the only team to win at least a title on all 3 different surfaces.
On September 29 the second team to qualify was the Williams Sisters, Serena Williams
and Venus Williams
Serena Williams and Venus Williams are competing in their first year-end championships, who were considered to be the biggest threat in the doubles even though they had a low ranking at the beginning of the year. They had an impressive record of 24-1 through the year, with their only lost at the French Open
to Petrova
and Mattek-Sands. They won three of the four Grand Slams with victories at the Australian Open
defeating Hantuchová
and Sugiyama
, Wimbledon
defeating Stosur
and Stubbs
, and at the US Open
defeating Black
and Huber
, all in straight sets. To maintain their record for never losing in any grandslam doubles finals. They also won the Bank of the West Classic
defeating Chan
and Niculescu
, their first non-Slam title since 1999.
On October 5, The third team to qualify was Nuria Llagostera Vives
and María José Martínez Sánchez
.
Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez, even though they did not have a good run at the slams with a first round exit at the French Open
and three quarterfinal exits at the Australian Open
, Wimbledon
and the US Open
, they won the most doubles titles of the year with six titles. They had back-to-back titles at Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas
defeating Pennetta
and Dulko
and Abierto Mexicano Telcel
in an all Spanish final prevailing over compatriots Domínguez Lino
and Parra Santonja
. As well as back-to-back titles at the Rogers Cup
prevailing over Stosur and Stubbs and the Pilot Pen
event defeating the Czezh team of Benešová
and Hradecká
. They also won the Barcelona Ladies Open
outlasting Cîrstea
and Klepač
and Internazionali Femminili di Palermo
prevailing over Koryttseva
and Kustova
. They also reached the finals of the Swedish Open
losing Pennetta and Dulko, and the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open losing to Black and Huber.
On October 12, the final qualifiers were Samantha Stosur
and Rennae Stubbs
.
Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs were the only qualifying team not to ever win a title in 2009. However their runner-up finishes at the AEGON International
losing to Sugiyama
and Amanmuradova
, Rogers Cup
losing to Llagostera Vives
and Martínez Sánchez
, and Wimbledon
losing to Serena
and Venus
helped them to qualify. They also reached the semifinals of US Open
and the third rounds of Australian Open
and French Open
.
At the White Group featured more fresh-faced players than the other group with none of them having won a Grand Slam. Each player's respective head to head records against one another is as follows: Dinara Safina
is 8-4, Caroline Wozniacki
is 1-5, Victoria Azarenka
is 4-8 and Jelena Janković
is 8-4. With Dinara Safina leading the group, she has a decent head-to-head with each player she is 1-0 against Wozniacki, with their only meeting coming from the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
finals with Safina winning 6-2 6-4, She also has a very good record against Azarenka leading 4-1 with her only loss to Azarenka coming from this year's Indian Wells Open
. They have also played 3 setters in their last 3 meetings. However Safina's record against Janković is 3-3 an even record with Janković winning their last meeting in the finals of Cincinnati 6-4 6-2. The next head-to-head features the two newcomers Azarenka and Wozniacki, which Azarenka has a slight lead of 2-1, with, winning their last two meetings. Like Safina, Janković has a good record against Wozniacki and Azarenka, she is 2-0 against Wozniacki, both matches having an interesting scoreline due to fact that Janković lost the first set in both meetings but eventually won the match. Janković is also 3-1 against Azarenka with Janković winning their last three matches and Azarenka's win dating back to 2006 in Miami.
The Maroon Group features more accomplished and veteran players with all of them reaching a Grand Slam final and 3 of them, aside from Dementieva, have won a Grand Slam at least twice. In their respective records reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Serena Williams
is 22-16, French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova
is 12-12, Elena Dementieva
is 10-21 and Venus Williams
is 22-17. As their head-to-heads are broken down the leader of the Maroon Group, Serena, is the only one that has a winning record against each of her group mates. She is 5-2 against Kuznetsova, this year they met twice at the Australian Open
which eventual champion Serena won and in the French Open
which eventual champion Kuznetsova won. Serena is 6-4 against Dementieva and 2-2 this year with Dementieva's wins coming from Medibank International Sydney
and Rogers
, and Serena's victories coming from the Australian Open and their stellar match in the 2009 Wimbledon Championships
. Serena is 11-10 against her sister Venus and 2-1 in the year. Venus won their first encounter of the year at the Dubai Tennis Championships
with Serena winning their last two meetings in Miami and Wimbledon. Unlike Serena, Dementieva is on the losing side with her head-to-heads besides being 4-6 against Serena, she is also 4-6 against Kuznetsova, with Kuznetsova winning their only meeting this year in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
and winning 4 of their last 5 meetings. Dementieva is also down against Venus 2-9 with Venus getting the upper hand 2-0 this year against Dementieva with wins in Dubai and Stanford
. Adding to that Venus is in a 6 match winning streak against Dementieva with Dementieva's win dating back to 2004 in Miami. On the head-to-head between Kuznetsova and Venus, Kuznetsova leads it 4-3 with them splitting their last two meetings and with their last meeting dating back to March 2008 in Miami with Kuznetsova prevailing.
million United States dollar
s.
and last year's semifinalist Jelena Janković
.
Azarenka broke in the opening game. Janković finally got on the scoreboard in the third game. Azerenka broke for a second time in the seventh game and had no trouble serving out the set at 5-2. The early stages of the second set followed much the same path as the first as Azarenka broke in the third game. This time though the Serb did muster some kind of a fight and she broke back two games later. Azarenka immediately restored her second set advantage, before going on to save break points in the eighth game. Azarenka broke again to claim the set and match 6-3.
They were followed on court by the opening match in the Maroon Group. Where defending champion Venus Williams
faced Elena Dementieva
. The American grabbed the advantage by breaking in the second game. The rest of the set went with serve as Venus won it 6-3. The opening game of the 2nd set saw Dementiva save 3 break points, before bing broken at the 4th opportunity. A battling hold in the third game, when she saved another break point. Dementieva then reeled off three games in a row. Venus recovered to brake again in the 11th game, with Dementieva once again producing a double fault. But the Russian broke straight back. Dementieva sealed the set with a 4th break point whenn Venus produced double fault. The Russian broke in the first and third games of the final set. In the 6th game Venus had break points only for Dementieva to hold. The Russian clinched the match 2 games later games later.
The final match of the night was between the Wimbledon
and Australian Open
champion, Serena Williams
. And the French Open
champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova
. Kuznetsova grabbed an early break, in the third game. But 3 games later and Serena was back on serve. The two players then traded breaks as Kutznetsova served for it. But the first set was to be decided on a tie-break. Serena saved two set points before sealing the set. The second set followed much the same pattern with Kuznetsova snatching the early break only to be pegged back by Serena once again. The Russian once again the broke in the fourth game before being broken straight back. Eventually it was Williams who lifted her level breaking for the lead in the 11th game before serving out the match taking the set 7-5.
and Caroline Wozniacki
. Azarenka, the No.6 seed at the season-ending event, lost the opening game of the match but won the next six straight. The 80-minute second set saw Azarenka fended off seven break points to hold serve after 20 minutes for a 3-2 lead. Wozniacki finally broke in the ninth game. Despite Azarenka holding break back points in the very next game, Wozniacki held her nerve to force a deciding set, albeit after a 10-minute break due to the heat rule. The break seemed to have benefited Azarenka as she broke in the second game. Azerenka promptly dropped her own serve and exchanging another two breaks of serve with Wozniacki before a seventh break of serve of the set left Azerenka serving for the match. Wozniacki broke back and broke again as Azerenka suffered a mental break down. Receiving a warning them having a point deducted on break point. Wozniacki held her nerve to serve it out.
In the second match of the day, top seed Dinara Safina
had to withdraw 1-1 and 30-15 in the first set with Jelena Janković
. After a lower back injury flared up, she was forced to quit in tears. She withdrew from the tournament and was be replaced by Vera Zvonareva
. Her withdrawal ensures that Serena Williams will be the year-end no. 1.
The main match featured a sister act as Serena Williams
and Venus Williams
went toe to toe in a tight 3 sets, lasting 160 minutes. Venus, broke in the second game of the match. Venus though gifted her younger sister the break back, with three double faults in the one game. But re-established the break in the fourth game. Serena broke back for a second time before the two players went on to exchange solid service holds. But it was only a temporary respite for Serena as Venus broke once again in the 12th game, sealing the set. Venus fell apart in the second, handing Serena a break in the opening game. Serena further extended her lead in the seventh game of the set when she broke again. Despite being broken back in the very next game, Serena won the set 6-4. The decider saw five out of the first six games going against serve. But despite Venus trailing for much of the set, and even serving to stay in it at 5-3 down it she first held a match point. Serena saved it with some ferocious hitting, before forcing the decisive tie-break. Serena took control, racing out to a 4-2 lead at the change of ends before sealing it with her first match point.
and Safina's replacement Vera Zvonareva
. Wozniacki, the No. 4 seed, won 11 of the first 13 games against Zvonareva. But the Russian summoned the form that took her to the final of the season finale a year ago, leveling up at a set all. And saving two match points at 5-6 in that set. After a 10-minute break due to the heat rule Wozniacki came out strong again, building a 3-1 lead in the third. Zvonareva then won three of the next four games to level at 4-4. But the Dane wasn't done, holding then breaking for 5-4 and fighting off severe cramps - and the subsequent tears - to serve it out..
The second match saw Serena Williams
pitting against Elena Dementieva
. Dementieva, broke in the second game. But the American, who played with heavy strapping on her left thigh, broke back immediately, Serena then ran away with the first set, breaking again in the sixth and eighth games. Serena appeared to be running away with it early in the second set, breaking in the second game. The Russian, though, did manage to find some fight and broke back at the fifth attempt in the third game. The rest of the set went with serve, until Dementieva sent down her 10th double fault in the 10th game of the set to hand Serena three match points. The Russian saved the first two, before the American wrapped up the win at the third attempt 6-2 6-4. As a result Serena booked her place in the Semifinals.
The final match saw defending champion Venus Williams
and Svetlana Kuznetsova
trying to win their first match of the tournament. The American grabbed the first break, in the fourth game, which is all she needed for the set, 6-2. The second set was much more competitive and this time it was the Russian who grabbed the early break. Despite holding break points Venus was forced to wait until the 10th game to break back. The set went to a tie-break. Kuznetsova won the tie-break ensuring a decisive third set. They traded early breaks. The American re-established her break lead in the ninth game and Kuznetsova saved two match points as Venus served for it. But Venus finally converted on the third time around after 2 hours and 28 minutes.
The 1st match of the last day of the Round Robin Stage featured Jelena Janković
and Caroline Wozniacki
. The result had several implications on the outcome of the group. A Janković win and she topped it with Wozniacki in 2nd with Azerenka having a chance to leap frog the pair of them later. This would squeeze Wozniacki out of the tournament. However a Wozniacki win would see her top with Azerenka going through, without having to play.
The first set saw Janković only lose 5 points on serve, and broke Wozniacki twice to take the set 6-2. The second set was much the same with Janković breaking 3 times. Wozniacki did offer some resistance breaking once, but could not prevent herself losing the set, 6-2. For a 6-2, 6-2 win for Janković and top place in the group.
The next match featured Russians Elena Dementieva
and Svetlana Kuznetsova
. Dementieva needed to win the match to clinch a berth or Venus Williams
and Kuznetsova would end up level with her. With the American going through on the tie break situation, unless Dementieva won in straight sets. Kutznetsova was looking to end her 8 match losing streak at the Championships. With nothing left to play for but pride, Kuznetsova re-discovered the kind of form that took her to the Beijing title at the beginning of October. Dementieva, looked tense from the start and was forced to save a break point in the second game. It didn't take long for another opportunity to go Kutznetsova's way when in the sixth game when her opponent double faulted twice. Dementieva saved two set points in the eighth game but Kuznetsova made no mistake behind her own serve, sealing the set 6-2. The second set followed much the same pattern, with Kuznetsova breaking in the opening game. The French Open champion secured a second break of serve in the fifth game when Dementieva went wide, before serving the match out.. This win ended Kuznetsova's 10 match-losing streak, since her first win at the 2006 championship. Venus advanced to the semifinals following this result.
The last match in the round robin stage featured Agnieszka Radwańska
who replaced co-alternate Vera Zvonareva
and Victoria Azarenka
. Azarenka needed to win to clinch the last semifinal place or it would go to Wozniacki. Azarenka appeared to be cruising to the straight sets win that would have seen her top the white group when she took a 6-4 5-2 lead over Radwańska. After Azarenka broke in the opening game and although Radwańska broke back in the second game, the opening game set the tone as the Belarussian broke again in the 5th and 6th games to race out to a 5-2 lead. Azarenka did suffer a minor blip in concentration towards the end of the first set as she allowed Radwańska one of the breaks back, it was only a temporary lapse as the Belarussian served it out at the second attempt. Azarenka ran away with match in the early stages of the second set, breaking in the first and third games. But the Pole, refused to give up and was rewarded for her patience when she broke back in the sixth game. Azarenka recovered her composure by immediately breaking back and setting up a chance to serve out he match. But the Belarussian undid all her good work with consecutive double faults to hand momentum back to Radwańska. The Pole raced through the next five games to seal the second set and level the match. The match was just one game into the third set when Azarenka was forced to take a medical timeout to have her left thigh heavily strapped. Three games later Azarenka was break points down and in tears after trying to race up the court to a drop shot. The Belarussian saved the first break point, but again she was left sobbing and kneeling on the ground next before going on to double fault and hand her opponent the break. One more medical timeout and one and a half games later and Azarenka decided she could not continue. Radwańska won 4-6 7-5 4-1, Azarenka retired due to cramp. The result meant that Janković topped the group with Wozniacki the runner up..
& Liezel Huber
and Samantha Stosur
& Rennae Stubbs
against each other. The first set saw Stosur and Stubbs in take an earlybreak and with it the set 6-3. The second looked liked it was going away of Black and Huber when they were 5-2 up and had two set points. However Stosur and Stubbs held on and won the next 3 games to push it to a tie-break. Which Black and Huber won 7-3. The match was decided by a champions tie-break. Black and Huber cruised into an 8-3 lead. Only for Stosur and Stubbs to fight back, in vain as they lost the tie break 10-8. This win meant that Black and Huber had secured the year-end no. 1..
The second match featured the first singles semifinal, meeting the champion of white group, Jelena Janković
and the runner up of maroon group, Venus Williams
. Janković broke early, however Venus broke back to level the set 3-3, it was not until the 11th game of the 1st set that Janković broke the Venus serve again and eventually closed the set 7-5. The second set saw Venus facing three break points in the 5th game, wherein Venus delivered 2 double faults, but held on as Janković faultered. The Serb then saved two break points in the next game but Venus seized her chance when the a third opportunity arose breaking the Janković serve, pounding away a forehand. It was enough for Venus to level the match. The third set saw Janković take an early lead as she rallied to a 2-0 lead only for Venus to take the next 3 games. Janković then fought back and broke to level it at 3-3, only for Venus to reestablish the break. Venus served at 5-4 for the match. After 2 hours 34 minutes, Venus clinched it 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to make her second consecutive final in the tournament. This win continues Venus success in the championship as she has never lost before the semifinals..
Following, the second singles semifinal took place, meeting the champion of maroon group and undefeated, Serena Williams
and the runner up of white group, Caroline Wozniacki
. The first set saw 7 break of serve with Serena breaking serve 4 times to Wozniacki's 3. Serena eventually closed the set 6-4. In the second set, Wozniacki broke in the opening game. Wozniacki's body finally gave up though at the end of the game, the Dane retired from the match citing abdominal injury. Serena advanced to the final where she will meet her sister, Venus, for the second time in the week..
The last doubles semifinal was then played between the Williams sister's Serena
and Venus
and the Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives
and María José Martínez Sánchez
. The first set saw both team holding serve up until 2-2 when the Williams sister won the next four games to close the set 6-2. The second set saw the Spanish team breaking Venus' serve early and that was all they needed as they won the set 6-4. In the champions tie-break the Williams sister's trailed 6-3 but gutted out some long points to claw back to 8-8. From there the Spaniards' teamship shone, as Llagostera Vives poached a backhand volley for 9-8 and Martínez Sánchez hit a forehand volley winner to seal the deal..
and defending champion Venus Williams
for the title. Serena progressed to the finals undefeated; beating, Elena Dementieva
, Svetlana Kuznetsova
and Venus in the group stage. Before defeating Caroline Wozniacki
in the semifinals. Venus progressed to the finals after having a bad start, losing close three setters to Serena and Dementieva, whilst defeating Kuznetsova. Venus received a lucky break as Dementieva lost to Kuznetsova, tying all 3 players with Venus winning and progressing to the semifinals. Venus progressed to the final when she defeated Jelena Janković
. Serena held the lifetime match record at 12-10 against Venus; coming into the final. With Serena winning their last 3 meetings. The first set saw Serena as dominate as she lost only 4 points on serve. Serena took advantage of her sister's poor service game converting two of six break points in the 3rd and 7th game to take the first set 6-2. The 2nd set featured no break point opportunities as it came down to a tie-break. In the tie-break Serena got the mini-break on the first point and rallied to a 5-1 lead only to see Venus cut it back to 5-4, but Serena won the tie-break 7-4 and the title. This win meant that Serena was the first player female to surpass the 6 million mark.
The doubles finals was followed featuring Year-end no. 1's Cara Black
and Liezel Huber
taking on the Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives
and María José Martínez Sánchez
. Both teams won their semi-final match through a Champions tie-break, 10-8. Black and Huber defeated Stosur
and Stubbs
while Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez defeated the Williams sisters. The 1st set saw 3 breaks a piece to send it to a tie-break that went to the Spanish duo 7-0. The second set saw the world no. 1's strike back 7-5. As the in the semifinals this went to a champions tie-break which the Spanish duo won by 10-7. This ended their 6 match losing streak against the Zimbabwean-American duo; making it seventh time lucky to win their biggest title. Edging the world No.1s, 7-6(0) 5-7 10-7.
Serena Williams
def. Venus Williams
, 6–2, 7–6(4)
Nuria Llagostera Vives
/ María José Martínez Sánchez
def.
Cara Black
/ Liezel Huber
, 7-6(0), 5-7, [10-7]
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
, Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
from October 27 to November 1. It was the second time the Khalifa International Tennis Complex
Khalifa International Tennis Complex
The Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex is a tennis complex in Doha, Qatar. The center is owned and operated by the Qatar Tennis Federation. It is the home venue of the ATP World Tour's Qatar ExxonMobil Open and the year-ending WTA Tour Championships from 2008-2010. It formerly hosted...
hosted the WTA Tour Year-End Singles and Doubles Championships
WTA Tour Championships
The WTA Tour Championships is a tennis tournament played annually at the end of the season for the top-ranked players on the Women's Tennis Association tour. The month, city and number of players has changed since the first edition in 1972...
.
Women's Tennis Association(WTA) rank No. 2 Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
won her second year-end championships title, defeating sister, Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
in the final 6–2, 7–6(4). The Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles...
and María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
won the doubles event on their debut 7–6(0), 5–7, [10-7]. They defeated the World No. 1s in doubles and defending champions, Cara Black
Cara Black
Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...
and Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,...
, in the final.
Singles
| Race Rankings Singles (26 October 2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | Points | Tour | Date Qualified |
| 1 |  Dinara SafinaDinara Safina Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1.... |
7731 | 18 | August 5 |
| 2 | Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... |
7576 | 17 | August 19 |
| 3 | Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles... |
5772 | 18 | October 5 |
| 4 |  Caroline WozniackiCaroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks... |
5475 | 24 | September 14 |
| 5 | Elena Dementieva Elena Dementieva Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a... |
5415 | 19 | September 14 |
| 6 |  Victoria AzarenkaVictoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots.... |
4451 | 16 | October 9 |
| 7 | Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... |
4397 | 16 | October 9 |
| 8 |  Jelena JankovićJelena Janković Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no... |
3555 | 18 | October 22 |
On August 5, the first qualifier for the year-end championship was announced in Dinara Safina.
2009 ASB Classic
The 2009 ASB Classic is a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It is the 24th edition of the ASB Classic, and was part of the WTA International tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, New Zealand, from January 5 through January 10, 2009.The...
losing to Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
6–3 2–6 6–1, followed by her second Grand Slam final. Her first on a hardcourt in the Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
but was thrashed by Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
6–0 6–3. Safina then became the world no. 1 after Serena's Charleston points dropped off. She then made her 3rd final in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
2009 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
The 2009 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a tennis tournament played on indoor clay courts. It is the 32nd edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, and is part of the Premier tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour...
but once again ended up on the losing side to Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
6–4 6–3. She then claimed two titles back-to-back in the Internazionali BNL d'Italia
2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia
The 2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 66th edition of the event known that year as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier-level tournaments of...
defeating Kuznetsova winning 6–3 6–2; and in the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
The 2009 Madrid Masters is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is the 8th edition of the event on the ATP and 1st on the WTA. It is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
defeating Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
6–2 6–4.
She then competed in her 4th straight finals and her 6th of the year at the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
but once again lost to Kuznetsova 6–4 6–2. She then reached the Semifinals of the Wimbledon Championships but was once again questioned for her credibility as the world no. 1 as Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
crushed her in the most dominating scoreline that a current world no. 1 has ever lost 6–1 6–0. - However she bounce back from that loss by winning the Slovenia Open
2009 Banka Koper Slovenia Open
The 2009 Banka Koper Slovenia Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 5th edition of the Banka Koper Slovenia Open, and was part of the WTA International tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour...
defeating Sara Errani
Sara Errani
Sara Errani , nicknamed "Poco Gigante", is a professional female tennis player from Italy. On February 23, 2009, she reached a new career high of No. 31 on the Tour rankings...
6-7(5) 6-1 7-5 in the final. She reached her 8th final in Cincinnati but lost to Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
6–4 6–2. Safina struggled in the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
being pushed in the first and second rounds by much lower ranked players. She ended up losing to Petra Kvitová
Petra Kvitová
Petra Kvitová is a Czech professional tennis player. She has won seven WTA singles titles. As of 31 October 2011, she is ranked World No. 2. Kvitová won the 2011 Wimbledon Championships and the 2011 WTA Tour Championships singles titles...
in the third round 6–4 2–6 7–6(5).
This is Safina's 2nd appearance and is trying to win her first match as she went 0-3 last year.
On August 19 - The second qualifier was announced as Serena Williams following her semifinal appearance at the Rogers Cup
2009 Rogers Cup
The 2009 Canada Masters was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 120th edition of the Canada Masters, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier 5 of the 2009 WTA Tour...
.
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
. She then reached the final of the Sony Ericsson Open
2009 Sony Ericsson Open
The 2009 Sony Ericsson Open was a men's and women's tennis tournament held from March 23 to April 5, 2009. It was the 25th edition of the Miami Masters event and was played on outdoor hard courts at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Florida, located near Miami...
after defeating Venus in the semifinals to keep her no.1 ranking. Playing injured she lost to Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots....
6-3, 6-1. From there she went on a four match losing streak, the longest of her career and lost World No. 1 ranking to Safina on April 20 to Dinara Safina
Dinara Safina
Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....
when she pulled out of Family Circle Cup. Despite a lack of preparation, Williams reached the quarterfinals of the tournament before losing to the eventual champion Kuznetsova 7–6(4), 5–7, 7–5, which ended her 18-match Grand Slam winning streak.
However she rebounded at Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
defeating Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
6–7(4) 7–5 8–6. The match was named by many as the best match of the year, she then claimed her third title by defeating Venus 7–6(3) 6–2.
In the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
, she reached the semifinals. She reclaimed the no. 1 spot for two weeks from Safina after outperforming Safina in the China Open
2009 China Open (tennis)
The 2009 China Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 11th edition of the China Open, and was part of the ATP 500 Series of the 2009 ATP Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2009 WTA Tour...
. This is Serena's sixth appearance and is trying to reclaim the world no. 1 from Dinara Safina. Serena won the event in 2001
2001 WTA Tour Championships
The 2001 Sanex Championships were held at the Olympiahalle in Munich, Germany between October 30 and November 4, 2001.-Singles: Serena Williams def. Lindsay Davenport, walkover*It was Williams's 1st WTA Championships title.-Doubles:...
and was the runner-up in 2002
2002 WTA Tour Championships
The 2002 Home Depot Championships were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, United States between November 6 and November 11, 2002.-Singles: Kim Clijsters def. Serena Williams, 7–5, 6–3-Doubles:...
and 2004
2004 WTA Tour Championships
The 2004 WTA Tour Championships were held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, United States.-Singles: Maria Sharapova def. Serena Williams, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4-Doubles:...
. Serena has a 10-5 record in the year-end championships.
On the 4th of September, Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
and Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
were the third and fourth to qualify, respectively
2009 ASB Classic
The 2009 ASB Classic is a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It is the 24th edition of the ASB Classic, and was part of the WTA International tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland, New Zealand, from January 5 through January 10, 2009.The...
and Medibank International Sydney
2009 Medibank International Sydney
The 2009 Medibank International Sydney was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 42nd edition of the event known that year as the Medibank International Sydney, and was part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the WTA Premier tournaments of...
where she defeated the top two seeds Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and Dinara Safina
Dinara Safina
Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....
, she then reached the semifinals of the Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
losing to eventual champion Serena 6–3 6–4. She then reached the finals of Open GDF Suez
2009 Open GDF Suez
The 2009 Open GDF Suez was a women's professional tennis tournament played on indoor hardcourts. It was the 17th edition of the Open GDF Suez and was a Premier tournament on the 2009 WTA Tour...
losing to Amélie Mauresmo
Amélie Mauresmo
Amélie Simone Mauresmo ; is a French former professional tennis player, and a former World No. 1. Mauresmo won two Grand Slam singles titles at the Australian Open and at Wimbledon....
7–6(7) 2–6 6–4. At the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
she was upset by Samantha Stosur
Samantha Stosur
Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
after winning her match against Jelena Dokić
Jelena Dokic
Jelena Dokić is an Australian female professional tennis player.During the height of her career, she played for Serbia and Montenegro and reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4 on 19 August 2002. After several family-related difficulties , she slowly slipped down the rankings in 2006...
due to Dokić's retirement. Dementieva played one of the most memorable matches on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour in 2009 when she was defeated by Serena Williams in the semifinals of Wimbledon (6–7(4) 7–5 8–6) in a marathon that lasted nearly three hours. Dementieva's successful hard court season was highlighted by winning the Rogers Cup
2009 Rogers Cup
The 2009 Canada Masters was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 120th edition of the Canada Masters, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier 5 of the 2009 WTA Tour...
in Toronto defeating Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ,. is a Russian professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. A US resident since 1994, Sharapova has won 24 WTA singles titles, including three Grand Slam singles titles at the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open...
6–4 6–3 in the finals and clinching the title of US Open Series
2009 US Open Series
The sixth edition of the US Open Series , included ten hard court tournaments started on July 20 in Indianapolis and endend in New Haven, Connecticut on August 29. This edition has scheduled five separate men's tournaments, four women's tournaments, and the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament hosted both a...
winner . However she was upset by Melanie Oudin
Melanie Oudin
Melanie Oudin is an American tennis player and former World Junior No. 2. Her career high rank is World No. 31, which she achieved on April 19, 2010...
in the second round of the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
. Dementieva also claimed her career high this year of no. 3 for 7 weeks. This is Dementieva's 9th appearance with her best showing coming from 2000 and 2008 reaching the semifinals. She has 5-16 record in the championship coming to this years event.
Caroline Wozniacki season was highlighted by 3 titles on 3 different surfaces in MPS Group Championships
2009 MPS Group Championships
The 2009 MPS Group Championships was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 30th edition of the MPS Group Championships but first held in its new location, and was part of the International series of the 2009 WTA Tour...
a green clay event defeating Aleksandra Wozniak
Aleksandra Wozniak
Aleksandra Wozniak is a Canadian professional tennis player. She turned professional in November 2005. Wozniak achieved a career-best ranking of no. 21 on June 22, 2009, making her the fourth-highest ranked Canadian singles player of all time. She has won one WTA and eight ITF tournaments...
6–1 6–2, In AEGON International
2009 AEGON International
The 2009 AEGON International is a combined men's and women's tennis tournament to be played on outdoor grass courts. It will be the 34th edition of the event for the women and the 1st edition for the men. It is classified as a WTA Premier tournament on the 2009 WTA Tour and as an ATP World Tour 250...
a grass event defeating Virginie Razzano
Virginie Razzano
Virginie Razzano , is a French professional tennis player and the current French No. 4. Razzano, who was born in Dijon, has won two WTA singles titles, both in 2007 in Guangzhou and Tokyo. Razzano reached her career high ranking of World No. 16 on September 14, 2009. As of May 2011, she is ranked...
7–6(5) 7–5 and in Pilot Pen Tennis
2009 Pilot Pen Tennis
The 2009 Pilot Pen Tennis was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 41st edition of the Pilot Pen Tennis, and was part of the ATP World Tour 250 Series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis...
a hardcourt event defeating Elena Vesnina
Elena Vesnina
Elena Sergeevna Vesnina is a professional female tennis player from Russia. Her career high rank was #22, achieved on 12 October 2009...
6–2 6–4. Wozniacki also reached 5 other finals in the Cellular South Cup
2009 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup
The 2009 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup was an ATP World Tour and WTA Tour event held at the hardcourts of the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. It was the 34th edition of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the 23rd edition of the Cellular South...
losing to Azarenka 6–1 6–3, the Family Circle Cup
2009 Family Circle Cup
The 2009 Family Circle Cup was a women's tennis event on the 2009 WTA Tour, which took place from April 13 to April 19. The event was hosted at the Family Circle Tennis Center, in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It was the second and last event of the clay court season played on green clay...
losing to Sabine Lisicki
Sabine Lisicki
Sabine Lisicki is a German professional tennis player of Polish background.Lisicki has won three WTA singles tournaments in her career and one doubles tournament . She reached the semifinals of the 2011 Wimbledon Championships and also reached the quarterfinals of the 2009 Wimbledon Championships...
6–2 6–4, the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
The 2009 Madrid Masters is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is the 8th edition of the event on the ATP and 1st on the WTA. It is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
losing to Safina 6–2 6–4, the Swedish Open
2009 Swedish Open
The 2009 Collector Swedish Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 1st edition of the Collector Swedish Open. It took place in Båstad, Sweden, from July 4 through July 11, 2009 for Women's and from July 11 through July 19, 2009 for Men's.-Seeds:*Seedings are based on...
losing to María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
7–5 6–4 and her biggest achievement so reaching the finals of the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
her first time to reach a spot greater that the fourth round, losing to Kim Clijsters
Kim Clijsters
Kim Antonie Lode Clijsters is a Belgian professional tennis player. As of 7 November 2011, Clijsters is ranked No. 13 in singles. Clijsters is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles....
7–5, 6–3 and reaching world no. 5. She will be competing in her 1st year-end championship. She will be making her debut at the year-end championship.
On October 5, Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
became the fifth qualifier.
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
where she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
5–7 7–5 6–1 throwing of a lead in the second set. In the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
2009 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
The 2009 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a tennis tournament played on indoor clay courts. It is the 32nd edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, and is part of the Premier tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour...
Kuznetsova won her first title in two years defeating Safina 6–4 6–3, the following week she once again faced Safina in the final of Internazionali BNL d'Italia
2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia
The 2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 66th edition of the event known that year as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier-level tournaments of...
however this time she lost 6–3 6–2. At the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
Kuznetsova made easy work on Safina in the final 6–4 6–2 in just 74 minutes despite struggling against Serena and Samantha Stosur
Samantha Stosur
Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
the previous rounds. The 2009 French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
is her 2nd Major, her first being the 2004 US Open. She then had a patch of bad run then on including a third round lost at Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
losing to Lisicki 6–2 7–5 and 4th round lost to Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
2–6 7–6(5) 7–6(3) at the US Open. She then won the 2009 China Open
2009 China Open (tennis)
The 2009 China Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 11th edition of the China Open, and was part of the ATP 500 Series of the 2009 ATP Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2009 WTA Tour...
over Agnieszka Radwańska
Agnieszka Radwanska
Agnieszka Radwańska is a WTA Tour Polish tennis player.Her career high singles ranking is World No. 8, which she achieved on 22 February 2010. As of 24 October 2011, she is ranked World No. 8. In 2007, Radwańska became the first Polish player in history to claim a WTA Tour singles title when she...
6–2 6–4 this helped her regain the no. 3 ranking . This is Kuznetsova's 5th appearance and trying to rub of a 8 match losing streak at the championship. Kuznetsova has a 1-10 record in the tournaments history.
On October 9 Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
and Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots....
qualified together as sixth and seventh qualifiers.
2009 Dubai Tennis Championships
The 2009 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships was a 500 Series event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier 5 event on the 2009 WTA Tour. Both of the events took place at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
defeating Virginie Razzano
Virginie Razzano
Virginie Razzano , is a French professional tennis player and the current French No. 4. Razzano, who was born in Dijon, has won two WTA singles titles, both in 2007 in Guangzhou and Tokyo. Razzano reached her career high ranking of World No. 16 on September 14, 2009. As of May 2011, she is ranked...
6–4 6–2. En route, she defeated Dementieva and Serena and a title in the Abierto Mexicano Telcel
2009 Abierto Mexicano Telcel
The 2009 Abierto Mexicano Telcel was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 16th edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, and was part of the 500 series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and was in the International category of tournaments on the 2009 WTA Tour...
defeating Flavia Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta is an Italian professional tennis player. She became Italy's first top 10 female singles player on 17 August 2009 and also the first ever Italian Tennis player to be ranked No.1 in Doubles on 28 February 2011. As of 10 October 2011, Pennetta is ranked World No. 18 in singles and...
6–1 6–2 and her first clay title since May 2005. She then went to Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
as the defending champion, losing in the finals to her sister Serena 7–6(3), 6–2 after crushing world no. 1 Dinara Safina
Dinara Safina
Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....
6–1 6–0 the biggest win against a reigning world no. 1. She also reached the final in Stanford losing to Marion Bartoli
Marion Bartoli
Marion Bartoli is a French professional tennis player and the current French no. 1. She has won seven Women's Tennis Association singles titles and three doubles titles. She was also a runner-up at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships....
. In the Grand Slams Venus' performance was not good losing in the 2nd round of Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
, 3rd round of the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
and 4th round of US Open. This is Venus' 4th appearance and she has never lost before the semifinals. Venus has an impressive record of 9-2 in the event.
This is Venus' 4th appearance and she has never lost before the semifinals. Venus has an impressive record of 9-2 in the event, and is the defending champion
Victoria Azarenka is enjoying her best season so far by reaching a career high no. 6. She began the year with her first career title in Brisbane International
2009 Brisbane International
The 2009 Brisbane International was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the first edition of the event known as the Brisbane International and resulted from the merger of the Next Generation Adelaide International on the men's tour with the Mondial Australian...
defeating Marion Bartoli
Marion Bartoli
Marion Bartoli is a French professional tennis player and the current French no. 1. She has won seven Women's Tennis Association singles titles and three doubles titles. She was also a runner-up at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships....
6–3 6–1, then followed it up with titles in Cellular South Cup
2009 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup
The 2009 Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the Cellular South Cup was an ATP World Tour and WTA Tour event held at the hardcourts of the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. It was the 34th edition of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the 23rd edition of the Cellular South...
defeating Wozniacki 6–1 6–3 and Sony Ericsson Open
2009 Sony Ericsson Open
The 2009 Sony Ericsson Open was a men's and women's tennis tournament held from March 23 to April 5, 2009. It was the 25th edition of the Miami Masters event and was played on outdoor hard courts at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park in Key Biscayne, Florida, located near Miami...
, defeating five-time Miami champion Serena Williams. She also managed to reached the quarterfinals of the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
losing to Safina 1–6 6–4 6–2 and Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
losing to eventual champion Serena 6–2 6–3. She will be competing in her 1st year-end championship.
On October 22 Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
claimed the last spot as Radwańska and Zvonareva fell early at the Kremlin Cup
2009 Kremlin Cup
The 2009 Kremlin Cup was a tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It was the 19th edition of the Kremlin Cup, and was part of the ATP World Tour 250 Series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2009 WTA Tour...
.
2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience
The 2009 Andalucia Tennis Experience was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 1st edition of the Andalucia Tennis Experience, and was an International-level tournament of the 2009 WTA Tour. The event is took place at the Club de Tenis Puente Romano in Marbella, Spain, from...
defeating Carla Suárez Navarro
Carla Suarez Navarro
Carla Suárez Navarro is a Spanish tennis player. She began playing for Spain in the 2008 Fed Cup. On May 18, 2009, she reached her career high ranking at World No. 22.-2008:...
6–3 3–6 6–3 and Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open defeating Safina 6–4 6–2. She also became the runner up at Tokyo, retiring in the final against Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova
Maria Yuryevna Sharapova ,. is a Russian professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. A US resident since 1994, Sharapova has won 24 WTA singles titles, including three Grand Slam singles titles at the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open...
due to wrist injury. In Grand Slams Janković the furthest she has reached in a slam was a fourth round. Janković failed to make it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam in 2009. This Janković's 3rd appearance having her best result last year finishing in the semifinals with a 2-5 record coming to the event.
The two alternate spots were taken by Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. Her career high is World No. 2 by the WTA, and she is currently ranked as the World No. 7. Zvonarёva has won twelve WTA Tour singles titles and reached the...
, who had a fascinating first half of the year by reaching the semifinal of Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
losing to Safina 6-3 7-6(4) and winning two titles in Pattaya Women's Open
2009 Pattaya Women's Open
The 2009 PTT Pattaya Women's Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 19th edition of the Pattaya Women's Open, and was part of the International category on the 2009 WTA Tour...
defeating Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza
Sania Mirza is a professional Indian tennis player. She began her tennis career in 2003 and is well known for her powerful forehand ground strokes. She is the first ever Indian to break into the top 30 WTA rankings...
7–5 6–1, an international tournament, and Indian Wells
2009 BNP Paribas Open
The 2009 BNP Paribas Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 33rd edition of the event, known that year as the BNP Paribas Open, and was classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
defeating Ana Ivanović
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanović is a former world no. 1 Serbian tennis player. As of November 7, 2011, she is ranked 22th on the WTA rankings. She beat Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open and was the runner-up in singles at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open...
7–6(5) 6–2 also defeating Wozniacki 6-4 6-2 and Azarenka 6-3 6-3 en route, a Premier Mandatory tournament. She withdrew from Internazionali BNL d'Italia
2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia
The 2009 Internazionali BNL d'Italia was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 66th edition of the event known that year as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier-level tournaments of...
, Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
The 2009 Madrid Masters is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is the 8th edition of the event on the ATP and 1st on the WTA. It is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
and Roland Garros
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
with a right ankle injury. In the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
she lost to Flavia Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta is an Italian professional tennis player. She became Italy's first top 10 female singles player on 17 August 2009 and also the first ever Italian Tennis player to be ranked No.1 in Doubles on 28 February 2011. As of 10 October 2011, Pennetta is ranked World No. 18 in singles and...
in the Fourth Round when she lost 6-0 in the third when she started whipping on court. This will be her 3rd appearance if one of the players withdraw, she has a 4-4 record at the event. The other alternate is Agnieszka Radwańska
Agnieszka Radwanska
Agnieszka Radwańska is a WTA Tour Polish tennis player.Her career high singles ranking is World No. 8, which she achieved on 22 February 2010. As of 24 October 2011, she is ranked World No. 8. In 2007, Radwańska became the first Polish player in history to claim a WTA Tour singles title when she...
, who had consistent results throughout the year, reaching at least the quarterfinals in twelve tournaments, including a runner-up finish at the China Open
2009 China Open (tennis)
The 2009 China Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 11th edition of the China Open, and was part of the ATP 500 Series of the 2009 ATP Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2009 WTA Tour...
losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
6-2 6-4, She scored 2 top 10 wins in the year over Ana Ivanović
Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanović is a former world no. 1 Serbian tennis player. As of November 7, 2011, she is ranked 22th on the WTA rankings. She beat Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open and was the runner-up in singles at the 2007 French Open and the 2008 Australian Open...
and Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
. This will be Radwańska's second appearance if a second player withdraws she has a 1-0 record at the event
Doubles
| Race Rankings Doubles (26 October 2009) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rk | Name | Points | Tour | Date Qualified |
| 1 | Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles... Liezel HuberLiezel Huber Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,... |
9100 | 20 | September 9 |
| 2 | Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... Serena WilliamsSerena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... |
6750 | 5 | September 29 |
| 3 | Nuria Llagostera Vives Nuria Llagostera Vives Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles... |
6396 | 19 | October 5 |
| 4 |  Rennae StubbsRennae Stubbs Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.... Samantha StosurSamantha Stosur Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No... |
5048 | 15 | October 12 |
On September 9 - Cara Black
Cara Black
Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...
and Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,...
, the defending champions, were the first to qualify for the championships after their runner-up finish at Wimbledon.
Cara Black and Liezel Huber have been the no. 1 doubles team since 2007. Performing consistently during the slams, they had a quarterfinal finish at the Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
losing to eventual runner-ups Hantuchová
Daniela Hantuchová
Daniela Hantuchová is a Slovak professional tennis player. She turned professional in 1999 and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first Tier I tournament and ended the year in the top 10.She is currently coached by Larri Passos...
and Sugiyama
Ai Sugiyama
is a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women's doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004. She turned professional in 1992...
. They then made a semifinal appearance at the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
losing to eventual champions Medina Garrigues
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Ana Isabel Medina Garrigues , better known as Anabel Medina, is a Spanish female tennis player. She reached a career high WTA Tour ranking of No. 16 on 4 May 2009, and has won 11 singles titles and 14 doubles titles, including the 2008 French Open and 2009 French Open with Virginia Ruano Pascual...
and Ruano Pascual
Virginia Ruano Pascual
Virginia Ruano Pascual is a Spanish professional female tennis player. She was born in Madrid, Spain.She has won three career singles titles but she has been more successful in doubles where she has won 43 titles, including 10 Grand Slam titles Between 2002...
and Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
losing to eventual champions the Williams sisters
Williams sisters
The Williams sisters are two professional American tennis players: Venus Williams born 1980, seven-time Grand Slam title winner , and Serena Williams born 1981, thirteen-time Grand Slam title winner , both of whom were coached from an early age by their father Richard Williams...
, and reached their first major final of the year in the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
losing again to the Williams Sisters. Outside the majors, they won back-to-back titles at the Open GDF Suez
2009 Open GDF Suez
The 2009 Open GDF Suez was a women's professional tennis tournament played on indoor hardcourts. It was the 17th edition of the Open GDF Suez and was a Premier tournament on the 2009 WTA Tour...
defeating Peschke
Kveta Peschke
Květoslava Peschke, also known as Květa Peschkeová is a professional female tennis player from the Czech Republic. She plays mostly on the baseline, with her best shot being the forehand. Her favourite surfaces are hard court and carpet...
and Raymond
Lisa Raymond
Lisa Raymond is an American professional tennis player who has achieved notable success in doubles tennis. On June 12, 2000, she reached the world number one ranking in doubles...
and Dubai Tennis Championships
2009 Dubai Tennis Championships
The 2009 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships was a 500 Series event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier 5 event on the 2009 WTA Tour. Both of the events took place at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
defeating Kirilenko
Maria Kirilenko
Maria Yuryevna Kirilenko is a Russian professional tennis player. Kirilenko won her first WTA Tour title in 2005, defeating Anna-Lena Grönefeld in the China Open. Kirilenko reached no. 18, her career-high singles ranking, on the WTA tour in July 2008. She won the junior event at the 2002 Canadian...
and Radwańska
Agnieszka Radwanska
Agnieszka Radwańska is a WTA Tour Polish tennis player.Her career high singles ranking is World No. 8, which she achieved on 22 February 2010. As of 24 October 2011, she is ranked World No. 8. In 2007, Radwańska became the first Polish player in history to claim a WTA Tour singles title when she...
. They also won Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
The 2009 Madrid Masters is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is the 8th edition of the event on the ATP and 1st on the WTA. It is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
once again outlasting Raymond and Peschke, AEGON Classic
2009 AEGON Classic
The 2009 AEGON Classic is a tennis tournament being played on outdoor grass courts. It was the 28th edition of the event, known that year as the AEGON Classic, It is taking place at the Edgbaston Priory Club in Birmingham, England, United Kingdom, from June 8 through June 14, 2009.-Seeds:*...
defeating the American team of Kops-Jones
Raquel Kops-Jones
Raquel Kops-Jones is a professional tennis player from the United States of America. She made her debut in professional competition in 2000, aged 17, at an ITF tournament in Boca Raton....
and Spears
Abigail Spears
Abigail Michal Spears is an American professional tennis player.Spears turned professional in 2000. Spears has reached the third round at the 2005 Australian Open, and the first round at the 2005 French Open, 2005 Wimbledon tournament and the 2005 U.S. Open...
, and Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open over Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez. They were the only team to win at least a title on all 3 different surfaces.
On September 29 the second team to qualify was the Williams Sisters, Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
Serena Williams and Venus Williams are competing in their first year-end championships, who were considered to be the biggest threat in the doubles even though they had a low ranking at the beginning of the year. They had an impressive record of 24-1 through the year, with their only lost at the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
to Petrova
Nadia Petrova
Nadezhda Viktorovna Petrova is a Russian professional tennis player.Overall, she has won 28 WTA Titles, ten in singles and eighteen in doubles. In singles, Petrova has reached a career high ranking of World No. 3 in May 2006 and has reached the semi-finals of the French Open in 2003 and 2005...
and Mattek-Sands. They won three of the four Grand Slams with victories at the Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
defeating Hantuchová
Daniela Hantuchová
Daniela Hantuchová is a Slovak professional tennis player. She turned professional in 1999 and had her breakthrough year in 2002, when she won her first Tier I tournament and ended the year in the top 10.She is currently coached by Larri Passos...
and Sugiyama
Ai Sugiyama
is a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women's doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004. She turned professional in 1992...
, Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
defeating Stosur
Samantha Stosur
Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
and Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008....
, and at the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
defeating Black
Cara Black
Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...
and Huber
Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,...
, all in straight sets. To maintain their record for never losing in any grandslam doubles finals. They also won the Bank of the West Classic
2009 Bank of the West Classic
The 2009 Bank of the West Classic was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 38th edition of the Bank of the West Classic, and was part of the WTA Premier tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, California, United States, from...
defeating Chan
Chan Yung-jan
Chan Yung-jan , Taiwan) is a professional female tennis player from Republic of China . She has won 13 ITF singles titles; and 7 WTA and 11 ITF doubles titles. Her career highlights include semifinals in the Japan Open in 2006 and finals in the PTT Bangkok Open in 2007 Chan Yung-jan , Taiwan) is a...
and Niculescu
Monica Niculescu
Monica Niculescu is a Romanian tennis player. As of October 24, 2011 she is ranked No. 29 at the WTA Tour Singles Ranking. Her highest WTA ranking is currently her present ranking in singles, reached on 24 Oct 2011, and No. 24 in doubles, reached on June 7, 2010.Niculescu was born in Slatina,...
, their first non-Slam title since 1999.
On October 5, The third team to qualify was Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles...
and María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
.
Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez, even though they did not have a good run at the slams with a first round exit at the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
and three quarterfinal exits at the Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
, Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
and the US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
, they won the most doubles titles of the year with six titles. They had back-to-back titles at Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas
2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas
The 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 17th edition of the Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, and was on the International category of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the Club Campestre El Rancho in Bogotá, Colombia, from February 14...
defeating Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta
Flavia Pennetta is an Italian professional tennis player. She became Italy's first top 10 female singles player on 17 August 2009 and also the first ever Italian Tennis player to be ranked No.1 in Doubles on 28 February 2011. As of 10 October 2011, Pennetta is ranked World No. 18 in singles and...
and Dulko
Gisela Dulko
Gisela Dulko is an Argentine female tennis player, who will, as of 4 July 2011, be ranked World No. 51 in singles and No. 4 in doubles. Although she enjoyed a modest success in singles, reaching No. 26 on November 21, 2005, and winning four WTA Tour titles, her speciality has been doubles, where...
and Abierto Mexicano Telcel
2009 Abierto Mexicano Telcel
The 2009 Abierto Mexicano Telcel was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 16th edition of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, and was part of the 500 series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and was in the International category of tournaments on the 2009 WTA Tour...
in an all Spanish final prevailing over compatriots Domínguez Lino
Lourdes Dominguez Lino
Lourdes Domínguez Lino is a Spanish professional female tennis player. On 11 September 2006 Domínguez Lino reached her career-high singles ranking: World No...
and Parra Santonja
Arantxa Parra Santonja
Arantxa Parra Santonja is a professional female tennis player from Spain. She turned pro in 2000.On 12 July 2010, Parra Santonja reached her career-high singles ranking: World No...
. As well as back-to-back titles at the Rogers Cup
2009 Rogers Cup
The 2009 Canada Masters was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 120th edition of the Canada Masters, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier 5 of the 2009 WTA Tour...
prevailing over Stosur and Stubbs and the Pilot Pen
2009 Pilot Pen Tennis
The 2009 Pilot Pen Tennis was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 41st edition of the Pilot Pen Tennis, and was part of the ATP World Tour 250 Series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier Series of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the Cullman-Heyman Tennis...
event defeating the Czezh team of Benešová
Iveta Benešová
Iveta Benešová is a professional tennis player. She began playing tennis at age of 7 and turned professional in 1998 in Prague. She has won two WTA Tour events and one Grand Slam in mixed doubles partnering with Jürgen Melzer at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.-2006–2008:In the 2006 Australian...
and Hradecká
Lucie Hradecká
Lucie Hradecká is a professional tennis player from the Czech Republic. In her career, Hradecká has won ten WTA doubles titles. This total includes the 2011 French Open, in which she won her first Grand Slam title.-Career:...
. They also won the Barcelona Ladies Open
2009 Barcelona Ladies Open
The 2009 Barcelona Ladies Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 3rd edition of the Barcelona Ladies Open, and it was an International-level tournament on the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the David Lloyd Club Turó in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, from April 13...
outlasting Cîrstea
Sorana Cîrstea
Sorana Mihaela Cîrstea, is a Romanian tennis player. Her career high rank was World No. 23, achieved on 17 August 2009, after she reached the quarterfinals of the 2009 French Open and the semifinals of the 2009 Los Angeles Open.- Playing style :...
and Klepač
Andreja Klepac
Andreja Klepač is a professional Slovenian tennis player. While she has not won a WTA title of any kind, she has won 3 ITF singles titles and 11 ITF doubles titles, and made one WTA Tour singles final and two WTA Tour doubles final. Klepač reached her career-high singles ranking on July 14, 2008,...
and Internazionali Femminili di Palermo
2009 Internazionali Femminili di Palermo
The 2009 Internazionali Femminili di Palermo is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is the 22st edition of the Internazionali Femminili di Palermo, and is part of the WTA International tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour...
prevailing over Koryttseva
Mariya Koryttseva
Mariya Koryttseva is a Ukrainian female tennis player. Her career high ranking is No. 50 in the world, which she achieved on August 18, 2008....
and Kustova
Darya Kustova
Darya Kustova is a professional Belarusian tennis player. Her highest WTA singles ranking is 117, which she reached on January 18, 2010. Her career high in doubles was 66, set at July 7, 2008.-External links:...
. They also reached the finals of the Swedish Open
2009 Swedish Open
The 2009 Collector Swedish Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 1st edition of the Collector Swedish Open. It took place in Båstad, Sweden, from July 4 through July 11, 2009 for Women's and from July 11 through July 19, 2009 for Men's.-Seeds:*Seedings are based on...
losing Pennetta and Dulko, and the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open losing to Black and Huber.
On October 12, the final qualifiers were Samantha Stosur
Samantha Stosur
Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
and Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008....
.
Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs were the only qualifying team not to ever win a title in 2009. However their runner-up finishes at the AEGON International
2009 AEGON International
The 2009 AEGON International is a combined men's and women's tennis tournament to be played on outdoor grass courts. It will be the 34th edition of the event for the women and the 1st edition for the men. It is classified as a WTA Premier tournament on the 2009 WTA Tour and as an ATP World Tour 250...
losing to Sugiyama
Ai Sugiyama
is a retired Japanese professional tennis player. She reached No. 1 in women's doubles on the WTA Tour. Her career-high singles ranking was No. 8, achieved on February 9, 2004. She turned professional in 1992...
and Amanmuradova
Akgul Amanmuradova
Akgul Amanmuradova is a professional female tennis player from Uzbekistan.In 2005, she reached her first ever WTA singles final in Tashkent, the capital of her home country. In the final she lost to 16-year old Michaëlla Krajicek of the Netherlands...
, Rogers Cup
2009 Rogers Cup
The 2009 Canada Masters was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 120th edition of the Canada Masters, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier 5 of the 2009 WTA Tour...
losing to Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles...
and Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
, and Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
losing to Serena
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and Venus
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
helped them to qualify. They also reached the semifinals of US Open
2009 US Open (tennis)
The 2009 US Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts, held from August 31 to September 14, 2009 in the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, New York City, United States. Originally, it was scheduled to end with the mens' singles final match on Sunday,...
and the third rounds of Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
and French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
.
Groupings
The stellar eight-woman line-up includes four players who have been No.1, three Grand Slam champions, and four who've been to at least one major final. Two of the field made their Top 10 debuts this season and are at the championships for the first time. Between them, they pocketed 21 of the 53 titles that were on offer during this landmark 'Roadmap' season. As last year, the competitors have been divided into two groups named for the colors of the Qatari flag. The White group comprises No.1 seed Dinara Safina, No.4 seed Caroline Wozniacki, No.6 seed Victoria Azarenka and No.8 seed Jelena Janković. The Maroon Group is made up of No.2 seed Serena Williams, No.3 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, No.5 seed Elena Dementieva and No.7 seed Venus Williams. Last year's runner-up, Vera Zvonareva, and Agnieszka Radwańska wait in the wings as alternates.At the White Group featured more fresh-faced players than the other group with none of them having won a Grand Slam. Each player's respective head to head records against one another is as follows: Dinara Safina
Dinara Safina
Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....
is 8-4, Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
is 1-5, Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots....
is 4-8 and Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
is 8-4. With Dinara Safina leading the group, she has a decent head-to-head with each player she is 1-0 against Wozniacki, with their only meeting coming from the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
2009 Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open
The 2009 Madrid Masters is a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It is the 8th edition of the event on the ATP and 1st on the WTA. It is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
finals with Safina winning 6-2 6-4, She also has a very good record against Azarenka leading 4-1 with her only loss to Azarenka coming from this year's Indian Wells Open
2009 BNP Paribas Open
The 2009 BNP Paribas Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 33rd edition of the event, known that year as the BNP Paribas Open, and was classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier Mandatory event on the 2009 WTA Tour...
. They have also played 3 setters in their last 3 meetings. However Safina's record against Janković is 3-3 an even record with Janković winning their last meeting in the finals of Cincinnati 6-4 6-2. The next head-to-head features the two newcomers Azarenka and Wozniacki, which Azarenka has a slight lead of 2-1, with, winning their last two meetings. Like Safina, Janković has a good record against Wozniacki and Azarenka, she is 2-0 against Wozniacki, both matches having an interesting scoreline due to fact that Janković lost the first set in both meetings but eventually won the match. Janković is also 3-1 against Azarenka with Janković winning their last three matches and Azarenka's win dating back to 2006 in Miami.
The Maroon Group features more accomplished and veteran players with all of them reaching a Grand Slam final and 3 of them, aside from Dementieva, have won a Grand Slam at least twice. In their respective records reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
is 22-16, French Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
is 12-12, Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
is 10-21 and Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
is 22-17. As their head-to-heads are broken down the leader of the Maroon Group, Serena, is the only one that has a winning record against each of her group mates. She is 5-2 against Kuznetsova, this year they met twice at the Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
which eventual champion Serena won and in the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
which eventual champion Kuznetsova won. Serena is 6-4 against Dementieva and 2-2 this year with Dementieva's wins coming from Medibank International Sydney
2009 Medibank International Sydney
The 2009 Medibank International Sydney was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 42nd edition of the event known that year as the Medibank International Sydney, and was part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the WTA Premier tournaments of...
and Rogers
2009 Rogers Cup
The 2009 Canada Masters was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 120th edition of the Canada Masters, and was part of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 of the 2009 ATP World Tour, and of the Premier 5 of the 2009 WTA Tour...
, and Serena's victories coming from the Australian Open and their stellar match in the 2009 Wimbledon Championships
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
. Serena is 11-10 against her sister Venus and 2-1 in the year. Venus won their first encounter of the year at the Dubai Tennis Championships
2009 Dubai Tennis Championships
The 2009 Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships was a 500 Series event on the 2009 ATP World Tour and a Premier 5 event on the 2009 WTA Tour. Both of the events took place at The Aviation Club Tennis Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates...
with Serena winning their last two meetings in Miami and Wimbledon. Unlike Serena, Dementieva is on the losing side with her head-to-heads besides being 4-6 against Serena, she is also 4-6 against Kuznetsova, with Kuznetsova winning their only meeting this year in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
2009 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
The 2009 Porsche Tennis Grand Prix is a tennis tournament played on indoor clay courts. It is the 32nd edition of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, and is part of the Premier tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour...
and winning 4 of their last 5 meetings. Dementieva is also down against Venus 2-9 with Venus getting the upper hand 2-0 this year against Dementieva with wins in Dubai and Stanford
2009 Bank of the West Classic
The 2009 Bank of the West Classic was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 38th edition of the Bank of the West Classic, and was part of the WTA Premier tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour. It took place at the Taube Tennis Center in Stanford, California, United States, from...
. Adding to that Venus is in a 6 match winning streak against Dementieva with Dementieva's win dating back to 2004 in Miami. On the head-to-head between Kuznetsova and Venus, Kuznetsova leads it 4-3 with them splitting their last two meetings and with their last meeting dating back to March 2008 in Miami with Kuznetsova prevailing.
Player Head-to-Heads
This are the head-to-heads as they approach the tournament.Prize money & Points
The total prize money for the 2009 Sony Ericsson Championships is 4.5million United States dollar
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
s.
| Stage | Singles | Doubles1 | Points 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion | +$770,000 | $375,000 | +450 |
| Runner-up | +$380,000 | $187,500 | +360 |
| Round Robin (3 wins) | $400,000 | $93,7502 | 690 |
| Round Robin (2 wins) | $300,000 | - | 530 |
| Round Robin (1 win) | $200,000 | - | 370 |
| Round Robin (0 wins) | $100,000 | - | 210 |
| Alternates | $50,000 | - | |
- 1 Prize money for doubles is per team.
- 2 Prize money is for doubles semifinalists
- 3 for every match played in the round robin a player gets 70 points automatically, and for each round robin win they get 160 additional points
Day 1
The action in the 2009 Year-end championship started in the White Group between debutant Victoria AzarenkaVictoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots....
and last year's semifinalist Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
.
Azarenka broke in the opening game. Janković finally got on the scoreboard in the third game. Azerenka broke for a second time in the seventh game and had no trouble serving out the set at 5-2. The early stages of the second set followed much the same path as the first as Azarenka broke in the third game. This time though the Serb did muster some kind of a fight and she broke back two games later. Azarenka immediately restored her second set advantage, before going on to save break points in the eighth game. Azarenka broke again to claim the set and match 6-3.
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
faced Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
. The American grabbed the advantage by breaking in the second game. The rest of the set went with serve as Venus won it 6-3. The opening game of the 2nd set saw Dementiva save 3 break points, before bing broken at the 4th opportunity. A battling hold in the third game, when she saved another break point. Dementieva then reeled off three games in a row. Venus recovered to brake again in the 11th game, with Dementieva once again producing a double fault. But the Russian broke straight back. Dementieva sealed the set with a 4th break point whenn Venus produced double fault. The Russian broke in the first and third games of the final set. In the 6th game Venus had break points only for Dementieva to hold. The Russian clinched the match 2 games later games later.
The final match of the night was between the Wimbledon
2009 Wimbledon Championships
The 2009 Wimbledon Championships took place on the outdoor grass courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London, from Monday 22 June through to Sunday 5 July 2009...
and Australian Open
2009 Australian Open
The 2009 Australian Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts. It was the 97th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year. It took place at the Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 19 January through 1 February 2009. The 2009 men's...
champion, Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
. And the French Open
2009 French Open
The 2009 French Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the 108th edition of the French Open, and the second Grand Slam event of the year...
champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
. Kuznetsova grabbed an early break, in the third game. But 3 games later and Serena was back on serve. The two players then traded breaks as Kutznetsova served for it. But the first set was to be decided on a tie-break. Serena saved two set points before sealing the set. The second set followed much the same pattern with Kuznetsova snatching the early break only to be pegged back by Serena once again. The Russian once again the broke in the fourth game before being broken straight back. Eventually it was Williams who lifted her level breaking for the lead in the 11th game before serving out the match taking the set 7-5.
| Matches on Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Winner | Loser | Score |
| White Group | Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots.... [6] |
Jelena Janković Jelena Janković Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no... [8] |
6–2, 6–3 |
| Maroon Group | Elena Dementieva Elena Dementieva Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a... [5] |
Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... [7] |
3–6, 7–6(6), 6–2 |
| Maroon Group | Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... [2] |
Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles... [3] |
7–6(6), 7–5 |
| 1st match starts at 5:00 PM | |||
Day 2
The first match featured debutants Victoria AzarenkaVictoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots....
and Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
. Azarenka, the No.6 seed at the season-ending event, lost the opening game of the match but won the next six straight. The 80-minute second set saw Azarenka fended off seven break points to hold serve after 20 minutes for a 3-2 lead. Wozniacki finally broke in the ninth game. Despite Azarenka holding break back points in the very next game, Wozniacki held her nerve to force a deciding set, albeit after a 10-minute break due to the heat rule. The break seemed to have benefited Azarenka as she broke in the second game. Azerenka promptly dropped her own serve and exchanging another two breaks of serve with Wozniacki before a seventh break of serve of the set left Azerenka serving for the match. Wozniacki broke back and broke again as Azerenka suffered a mental break down. Receiving a warning them having a point deducted on break point. Wozniacki held her nerve to serve it out.
Dinara Safina
Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1....
had to withdraw 1-1 and 30-15 in the first set with Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
. After a lower back injury flared up, she was forced to quit in tears. She withdrew from the tournament and was be replaced by Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. Her career high is World No. 2 by the WTA, and she is currently ranked as the World No. 7. Zvonarёva has won twelve WTA Tour singles titles and reached the...
. Her withdrawal ensures that Serena Williams will be the year-end no. 1.
The main match featured a sister act as Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
went toe to toe in a tight 3 sets, lasting 160 minutes. Venus, broke in the second game of the match. Venus though gifted her younger sister the break back, with three double faults in the one game. But re-established the break in the fourth game. Serena broke back for a second time before the two players went on to exchange solid service holds. But it was only a temporary respite for Serena as Venus broke once again in the 12th game, sealing the set. Venus fell apart in the second, handing Serena a break in the opening game. Serena further extended her lead in the seventh game of the set when she broke again. Despite being broken back in the very next game, Serena won the set 6-4. The decider saw five out of the first six games going against serve. But despite Venus trailing for much of the set, and even serving to stay in it at 5-3 down it she first held a match point. Serena saved it with some ferocious hitting, before forcing the decisive tie-break. Serena took control, racing out to a 4-2 lead at the change of ends before sealing it with her first match point.
| Matches on Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Winner | Loser | Score |
| White Group | Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks... [4] |
Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots.... [6] |
1–6, 6–4, 7–5 |
| White Group | Jelena Janković Jelena Janković Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no... [8] |
Dinara Safina Dinara Safina Dinara Mikhailovna Safina , born April 27, 1986 in Moscow, is a Russian professional tennis player of Tatar background. Safina's career high ranking is World No. 1.... [1] |
1–1 ret |
| Maroon Group | Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... [2] |
Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... [7] |
5-7, 6-4, 7-6(4) |
| 1st match starts at 5:00 PM | |||
Day 3
The first on court featured a marathon between Caroline WozniackiCaroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
and Safina's replacement Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. Her career high is World No. 2 by the WTA, and she is currently ranked as the World No. 7. Zvonarёva has won twelve WTA Tour singles titles and reached the...
. Wozniacki, the No. 4 seed, won 11 of the first 13 games against Zvonareva. But the Russian summoned the form that took her to the final of the season finale a year ago, leveling up at a set all. And saving two match points at 5-6 in that set. After a 10-minute break due to the heat rule Wozniacki came out strong again, building a 3-1 lead in the third. Zvonareva then won three of the next four games to level at 4-4. But the Dane wasn't done, holding then breaking for 5-4 and fighting off severe cramps - and the subsequent tears - to serve it out..
The second match saw Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
pitting against Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
. Dementieva, broke in the second game. But the American, who played with heavy strapping on her left thigh, broke back immediately, Serena then ran away with the first set, breaking again in the sixth and eighth games. Serena appeared to be running away with it early in the second set, breaking in the second game. The Russian, though, did manage to find some fight and broke back at the fifth attempt in the third game. The rest of the set went with serve, until Dementieva sent down her 10th double fault in the 10th game of the set to hand Serena three match points. The Russian saved the first two, before the American wrapped up the win at the third attempt 6-2 6-4. As a result Serena booked her place in the Semifinals.
The final match saw defending champion Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
and Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
trying to win their first match of the tournament. The American grabbed the first break, in the fourth game, which is all she needed for the set, 6-2. The second set was much more competitive and this time it was the Russian who grabbed the early break. Despite holding break points Venus was forced to wait until the 10th game to break back. The set went to a tie-break. Kuznetsova won the tie-break ensuring a decisive third set. They traded early breaks. The American re-established her break lead in the ninth game and Kuznetsova saved two match points as Venus served for it. But Venus finally converted on the third time around after 2 hours and 28 minutes.
| Matches on Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Winner | Loser | Score |
| White Group | Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks... [4] |
Vera Zvonareva Vera Zvonareva Vera Zvonareva is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. Her career high is World No. 2 by the WTA, and she is currently ranked as the World No. 7. Zvonarёva has won twelve WTA Tour singles titles and reached the... [ALT] |
6-0, 6-7(3), 6-4 |
| Maroon Group | Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... [2] |
Elena Dementieva Elena Dementieva Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a... [5] |
6-2, 6-4 |
| Maroon Group | Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... [7] |
Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles... [3] |
6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4 |
| 1st match starts at 5:00 PM | |||
Day 4
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
and Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
. The result had several implications on the outcome of the group. A Janković win and she topped it with Wozniacki in 2nd with Azerenka having a chance to leap frog the pair of them later. This would squeeze Wozniacki out of the tournament. However a Wozniacki win would see her top with Azerenka going through, without having to play.
The first set saw Janković only lose 5 points on serve, and broke Wozniacki twice to take the set 6-2. The second set was much the same with Janković breaking 3 times. Wozniacki did offer some resistance breaking once, but could not prevent herself losing the set, 6-2. For a 6-2, 6-2 win for Janković and top place in the group.
The next match featured Russians Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
and Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
. Dementieva needed to win the match to clinch a berth or Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
and Kuznetsova would end up level with her. With the American going through on the tie break situation, unless Dementieva won in straight sets. Kutznetsova was looking to end her 8 match losing streak at the Championships. With nothing left to play for but pride, Kuznetsova re-discovered the kind of form that took her to the Beijing title at the beginning of October. Dementieva, looked tense from the start and was forced to save a break point in the second game. It didn't take long for another opportunity to go Kutznetsova's way when in the sixth game when her opponent double faulted twice. Dementieva saved two set points in the eighth game but Kuznetsova made no mistake behind her own serve, sealing the set 6-2. The second set followed much the same pattern, with Kuznetsova breaking in the opening game. The French Open champion secured a second break of serve in the fifth game when Dementieva went wide, before serving the match out.. This win ended Kuznetsova's 10 match-losing streak, since her first win at the 2006 championship. Venus advanced to the semifinals following this result.
The last match in the round robin stage featured Agnieszka Radwańska
Agnieszka Radwanska
Agnieszka Radwańska is a WTA Tour Polish tennis player.Her career high singles ranking is World No. 8, which she achieved on 22 February 2010. As of 24 October 2011, she is ranked World No. 8. In 2007, Radwańska became the first Polish player in history to claim a WTA Tour singles title when she...
who replaced co-alternate Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva
Vera Zvonareva is a professional tennis player from Russia. She was introduced to tennis at the age of six and turned professional in 2000. Her career high is World No. 2 by the WTA, and she is currently ranked as the World No. 7. Zvonarёva has won twelve WTA Tour singles titles and reached the...
and Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka
Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots....
. Azarenka needed to win to clinch the last semifinal place or it would go to Wozniacki. Azarenka appeared to be cruising to the straight sets win that would have seen her top the white group when she took a 6-4 5-2 lead over Radwańska. After Azarenka broke in the opening game and although Radwańska broke back in the second game, the opening game set the tone as the Belarussian broke again in the 5th and 6th games to race out to a 5-2 lead. Azarenka did suffer a minor blip in concentration towards the end of the first set as she allowed Radwańska one of the breaks back, it was only a temporary lapse as the Belarussian served it out at the second attempt. Azarenka ran away with match in the early stages of the second set, breaking in the first and third games. But the Pole, refused to give up and was rewarded for her patience when she broke back in the sixth game. Azarenka recovered her composure by immediately breaking back and setting up a chance to serve out he match. But the Belarussian undid all her good work with consecutive double faults to hand momentum back to Radwańska. The Pole raced through the next five games to seal the second set and level the match. The match was just one game into the third set when Azarenka was forced to take a medical timeout to have her left thigh heavily strapped. Three games later Azarenka was break points down and in tears after trying to race up the court to a drop shot. The Belarussian saved the first break point, but again she was left sobbing and kneeling on the ground next before going on to double fault and hand her opponent the break. One more medical timeout and one and a half games later and Azarenka decided she could not continue. Radwańska won 4-6 7-5 4-1, Azarenka retired due to cramp. The result meant that Janković topped the group with Wozniacki the runner up..
| Matches on Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Winner | Loser | Score |
| White Group | Jelena Janković Jelena Janković Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no... [8] |
Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks... [4] |
6-2, 6-2 |
| Maroon Group | Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Kuznetsova Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles... [3] |
Elena Dementieva Elena Dementieva Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a... [5] |
6-3, 6-2 |
| White Group |  Agnieszka RadwańskaAgnieszka Radwanska Agnieszka Radwańska is a WTA Tour Polish tennis player.Her career high singles ranking is World No. 8, which she achieved on 22 February 2010. As of 24 October 2011, she is ranked World No. 8. In 2007, Radwańska became the first Polish player in history to claim a WTA Tour singles title when she... [ALT] |
Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka is a Belarusian professional tennis player. Her career high and current ranking is world no. 3, which she first achieved on 12 September 2011. She became the highest-ranked Belarusian player ever, surpassing Natasha Zvereva by two spots.... [6] |
4-6, 7-5, 4-1 ret |
| 1st match starts at 5:00 PM | |||
Day 5
The day was started with the first doubles semifinal. Pairing Cara BlackCara Black
Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...
& Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,...
and Samantha Stosur
Samantha Stosur
Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
& Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008....
against each other. The first set saw Stosur and Stubbs in take an earlybreak and with it the set 6-3. The second looked liked it was going away of Black and Huber when they were 5-2 up and had two set points. However Stosur and Stubbs held on and won the next 3 games to push it to a tie-break. Which Black and Huber won 7-3. The match was decided by a champions tie-break. Black and Huber cruised into an 8-3 lead. Only for Stosur and Stubbs to fight back, in vain as they lost the tie break 10-8. This win meant that Black and Huber had secured the year-end no. 1..
The second match featured the first singles semifinal, meeting the champion of white group, Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
and the runner up of maroon group, Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
. Janković broke early, however Venus broke back to level the set 3-3, it was not until the 11th game of the 1st set that Janković broke the Venus serve again and eventually closed the set 7-5. The second set saw Venus facing three break points in the 5th game, wherein Venus delivered 2 double faults, but held on as Janković faultered. The Serb then saved two break points in the next game but Venus seized her chance when the a third opportunity arose breaking the Janković serve, pounding away a forehand. It was enough for Venus to level the match. The third set saw Janković take an early lead as she rallied to a 2-0 lead only for Venus to take the next 3 games. Janković then fought back and broke to level it at 3-3, only for Venus to reestablish the break. Venus served at 5-4 for the match. After 2 hours 34 minutes, Venus clinched it 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 to make her second consecutive final in the tournament. This win continues Venus success in the championship as she has never lost before the semifinals..
Following, the second singles semifinal took place, meeting the champion of maroon group and undefeated, Serena Williams
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and the runner up of white group, Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
. The first set saw 7 break of serve with Serena breaking serve 4 times to Wozniacki's 3. Serena eventually closed the set 6-4. In the second set, Wozniacki broke in the opening game. Wozniacki's body finally gave up though at the end of the game, the Dane retired from the match citing abdominal injury. Serena advanced to the final where she will meet her sister, Venus, for the second time in the week..
The last doubles semifinal was then played between the Williams sister's Serena
Serena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and Venus
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
and the Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles...
and María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
. The first set saw both team holding serve up until 2-2 when the Williams sister won the next four games to close the set 6-2. The second set saw the Spanish team breaking Venus' serve early and that was all they needed as they won the set 6-4. In the champions tie-break the Williams sister's trailed 6-3 but gutted out some long points to claw back to 8-8. From there the Spaniards' teamship shone, as Llagostera Vives poached a backhand volley for 9-8 and Martínez Sánchez hit a forehand volley winner to seal the deal..
| Matches on Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Winner | Loser | Score |
| Doubles - Semifinals | Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles... [1] Liezel HuberLiezel Huber Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,... [1] |
Samantha Stosur Samantha Stosur Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No... [4] Rennae StubbsRennae Stubbs Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.... [4] |
3-6, 7-6(3), [10-8] |
| Singles - Semifinals 1 | Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... [7] |
Jelena Janković Jelena Janković Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no... [8] |
5-7, 6-3, 6-4 |
| Singles - Semifinals | Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... [2] |
Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks... [4] |
6-4, 0-1 ret |
| Doubles - Semifinals 2 | Nuria Llagostera Vives Nuria Llagostera Vives Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles... [3] María José Martínez SánchezMaría José Martínez Sánchez María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She... [3] |
Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... [2] Venus WilliamsVenus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... [2] |
2-6, 6-4, [10-8] |
| 1st match starts at 2:00 PM 1 Not before 4:30 PM 2 Not before 7:30 PM / after suitable rest |
|||
Day 6
The last day saw another showdown between Serena WilliamsSerena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
and defending champion Venus Williams
Venus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
for the title. Serena progressed to the finals undefeated; beating, Elena Dementieva
Elena Dementieva
Elena Viatcheslavovna Dementieva is a retired Russian professional tennis player. Dementieva is most notable for winning the singles gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She won 16 WTA singles titles and reached the finals of the 2004 French Open and 2004 US Open. Dementieva achieved a...
, Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Svetlana Aleksandrovna Kuznetsova ; born June 27, 1985) is a Russian professional tennis player and as of October 10, 2011 ranked No. 21 in the WTA singles and No. 90 in the doubles ranking. Kuznetsova has appeared in four singles Grand Slam finals, winning two, and has also appeared in six doubles...
and Venus in the group stage. Before defeating Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki is a Danish professional tennis player. She is the current world no. 1 on the WTA Tour. As of 7 November 2011, she has held this position for 56 weeks...
in the semifinals. Venus progressed to the finals after having a bad start, losing close three setters to Serena and Dementieva, whilst defeating Kuznetsova. Venus received a lucky break as Dementieva lost to Kuznetsova, tying all 3 players with Venus winning and progressing to the semifinals. Venus progressed to the final when she defeated Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković
Jelena Janković is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player from Serbia. She reached the final of the 2008 US Open and won the 2007 Wimbledon Mixed Doubles title. Janković is ranked world no...
. Serena held the lifetime match record at 12-10 against Venus; coming into the final. With Serena winning their last 3 meetings. The first set saw Serena as dominate as she lost only 4 points on serve. Serena took advantage of her sister's poor service game converting two of six break points in the 3rd and 7th game to take the first set 6-2. The 2nd set featured no break point opportunities as it came down to a tie-break. In the tie-break Serena got the mini-break on the first point and rallied to a 5-1 lead only to see Venus cut it back to 5-4, but Serena won the tie-break 7-4 and the title. This win meant that Serena was the first player female to surpass the 6 million mark.
The doubles finals was followed featuring Year-end no. 1's Cara Black
Cara Black
Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...
and Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber
Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,...
taking on the Spanish duo of Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles...
and María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
. Both teams won their semi-final match through a Champions tie-break, 10-8. Black and Huber defeated Stosur
Samantha Stosur
Samantha "Sam" Jane Stosur is an Australian professional tennis player. She won the 2011 US Open singles title and was a finalist at the 2010 French Open. Stosur is ranked World No. 6 and her career high in singles is World No. 4, achieved on 21 February 2011. She is a former world No...
and Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs
Rennae Stubbs is an Australian tennis player. She has won several Grand Slam doubles titles and represented Australia at four successive Olympic Games; Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008....
while Llagostera Vives and Martínez Sánchez defeated the Williams sisters. The 1st set saw 3 breaks a piece to send it to a tie-break that went to the Spanish duo 7-0. The second set saw the world no. 1's strike back 7-5. As the in the semifinals this went to a champions tie-break which the Spanish duo won by 10-7. This ended their 6 match losing streak against the Zimbabwean-American duo; making it seventh time lucky to win their biggest title. Edging the world No.1s, 7-6(0) 5-7 10-7.
| Matches on Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Group | Champion | Runner up | Score |
| Singles - Final | Serena Williams Serena Williams Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on... [2] |
Venus Williams Venus Williams Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate... [7] |
6-2, 7-6(4) |
| Doubles - Final | Nuria Llagostera Vives Nuria Llagostera Vives Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles... [3] María José Martínez SánchezMaría José Martínez Sánchez María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She... [3] |
Cara Black Cara Black Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles... [1] Liezel HuberLiezel Huber Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,... [1] |
7-6(0), 5-7, [10-7] |
| 1st match starts at 6:00 PM | |||
Singles
Serena WilliamsSerena Williams
Serena Jameka Williams is an American professional tennis player and a former world no. 1. The Women's Tennis Association has ranked her world no. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the world no. 1 for the first time on July 8, 2002 and regained this ranking for the fifth time on...
def.
Venus WilliamsVenus Williams
Venus Ebony Starr Williams is an American professional tennis player who is a former World No. 1 and is ranked World No. 101 as of 10 October 2011 in singles and World No. 20 in doubles as of 2011. She has been ranked World No. 1 in singles by the Women's Tennis Association on three separate...
, 6–2, 7–6(4)
Doubles
Nuria Llagostera VivesNuria Llagostera Vives
Nuria Llagostera Vives is a Spanish female tennis player. On June 6, 2005, Llagostera Vives reached her career-high singles ranking, World No. 35.During her career she has won 2 singles titles and 11 in doubles...
/
María José Martínez SánchezMaría José Martínez Sánchez
María José Martínez Sánchez is a Spanish professional tennis player. In singles, she has won five WTA singles titles, the 2009 Copa Sony Ericsson Colsanitas, the 2009 Swedish Open, the Premier 5 event, 2010 Internazionali BNL d'Italia, the 2011 Gastein Ladies and the 2011 Hansol Korea Open. She...
def.
Cara BlackCara Black
Cara Black is a professional female tennis player from Zimbabwe. She has won 7 singles titles and 63 women's doubles titles. She has won all four Grand Slam mixed doubles titles and three of the four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles. She is currently ranked World No. 28 in women's doubles...
/
Liezel HuberLiezel Huber
Liezel Huber is a professional tennis player who competes for, resides in, and is a naturalized citizen of the United States. Huber has won four Grand Slam titles in women's doubles with partner Cara Black, one with Lisa Raymond, and two mixed doubles titles with Bob Bryan. On November 12, 2007,...
, 7-6(0), 5-7, [10-7]