Serena, Venus to Meet in Doha WTA Finals

by Staff | October 31st, 2009, 5:50 pm
  • 21 Comments

Serena and Venus Williams will meet for the 2009 Doha WTA championship title on Sunday. Serena advanced after Caroline Wozniacki retired down 6-4, 0-1. Venus’s road much tougher as she needed three sets to turn away Jelena Jankovic 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. ADHEREL

Venus trailed 2-0 in the final set against Serb but quickly turned the tables breaking Jankovic three straight times to pull ahead 5-3 and eventual take the match.

“It’s wonderful, I’m so excited,” said Venus who won Doha last year. “It’s the way I wanted to end my year.”


Serena then followed and set up an all-sister final when Wozniacki, who had been hampered by injuries all week, retired with a left ab strain.

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

Serena won the year-end title in 2001 and has been runner-up twice.

Serena leads the all-Williams rivalry with Venus, 12-10, winning their last three meetings this year at Miami, Wimbledon and here in Doha a few days ago when Serena saved a match point in a thrilling third set tiebreak win.

“I’m just taking it one day at a time,” Venus added. “I’ve never done so well in the round robin of the Sony Ericsson Championships, so I’m really excited. I came into this week hoping to do my best and here I am. I’m literally giving everything I have. I think I’m gonna wiped out by the end of this.”

Regardless of outcome, Serena will overtake Dinara Safina and finish as the No. 1 ranked player for 2009, her second such year-end honor.

Earlier in the day Serena announced that she will not be participating in next week’s Fed Cup final against Italy. Williams will be replaced by Vania King who will join Melanie Oudin, Liezel Huber and Alexa Glatch when the U.S. travels to Italy for the final on November 7.


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21 Comments for Serena, Venus to Meet in Doha WTA Finals

Leo Says:

Visit http://thetenniscompendium.blogspot.com for more info on latest tennis news and gossip.

ARGHHH….why didnt jankovic beat venus!!! so close!


Kimmi Says:

Sar, I will comment on your post on this thread. Venus was a fighter..but JJ so close, she did couple of bad games, serving consecutives double faults..Aaaaarg..Venus never look back after that.

Woz retire because of the abdominal strain, it was funny because she broke Serena in the 1st game of second set, I thought she was playing great on that game but then she retire..sigh. How many retirements did we get in this tourney so far..is it 3 or 4 ???

I think if Woz was OK, she could have made it very difficult for Serena, the match was coming out very good.

its serena title tomorrow, me think.

The double teams that beat the sisters is one to watch for sure..they are very good. I think they will win tomorrow.


been there Says:

Congratulations to Venus & Serena for reaching the Doha finals. Who would have thought Venus would make it after being hampered by injury & poor play post wimbledon? Good on her – a fighter she truly is. I suppose that’s what it means to be a champion – giving 100% wether winning or losing. Hope she has enough in the tank to give us a great final.

Wish they managed to reach the doubles finals as well-though I suppose with three doubles slam titles this yr, it’s ok…can’t be too greedy.

Did Serena withdraw from Fed cup ‘coz Venus wasn’t selected? But I reckon the team will be ok ‘coz they did manage to reach the finals without the Williams sisters.


huh Says:

Wishin Venus all the best against Serena! I lov Venus and I’m tired of seeing her losing to Serena in recent times!


Chuck Says:

Been There,

Why would you think that Serena isn’t playing Fed because Venus wasn’t on the squad? Every player in the top 10 is beat up and bandage up because of the season.

Yes, this is what the revamp WTA wanted and guess what? Everyone looks like Senior Citizens. Serena and Venus have been playing injuried all year and so has the rest of the field.

Half of you didn’t want Venus or Serena on the Fed Cup team. Why whine about it now?


Kimmi Says:

the sisters are playing better in the second set. I hope Venus get the second to force the decider. Serena is serving very well today, she is tough.


jane Says:

I am with you huh – go Venus!


Kimmi Says:

WOW..Serena was ruthless in this match, Venus good try but no chance. Congrants Serena. Deserving number 1 this year.


i am it Says:

Wished Venus had won.
Congrats to Serena, the better player of the day and overall career. The 4th best of the Open Era takes the No. 1 mantle one more time. The ranking-point margin may not be easily surpassable like the last time.


jane Says:

Yes, Serena may’ve solidified her place at the top this time. BTW, does anyone know if it was ever settled as to whether or not she’d be suspended for the USO incident, or was that settled with the fine? I thought I read somewhere that she could still be suspended for the AO 2010?


Kimmi Says:

Serena says, at least she won another title not a grand slam. she has ended her losing streak since april 08…LOL, a lot of people would like to be in her situation.


i am it Says:

Kimmi, what does this mean, “she has ended her losing streak since april 08”?
did not Serena beat Venus in ’09 Wimby, i.e. July this year?


Kimmi Says:

I am it, the commentator said since april 08 she has not won a non GS tournament.

appaently her last tournament she won NOT a grand slam was Charleston 08


AgassiFan Says:

I don’t know what to believe anymore.

Agassi wore a wig. He took crystal meth.

He took speed.

Someone needs to check if Roger Federer’s hair is real. It looks Godly, but wig too. Who knows?

Tennis is screwed.


Kimmi Says:

No add scoring in doubles, they have deciding point instead. Mmmm I just learn that yesterday. I guess the ruling made sure the doubles matches should not spend too much time on the court…Interesting.

I watched the Williams sisters vs Spanish dual and the Spaniards really impresses me. One girl is only 5′ 1″. Unbelievable. Great pairing. Today, the Spanish team beat no.1 doubles players. They came to doha as big underdogs and came out the winners. Congrats. A team to watch in the future.


been there Says:

Chuck Says:

“Been There,

Why would you think that Serena isn’t playing Fed because Venus wasn’t on the squad? Every player in the top 10 is beat up and bandage up because of the season.”

Quite simple really….they usually come as a team when playing for the USA in non-WTA events, i.e. the Fed Cup. She’d planned to play until Venus was not lined up in the team…obviously, she doesn’t say so directly, but that made me wonder. Just a sample from an interview this week on 28th Oct:http://www.asapsports.com/show_interview.php?id=60051 ….then a few days later, she drops out. & She clearly feels that the team can do without them…quite good of the coach really to be building up the team. They can’t rely on Venus & Serena forever…they’ve given enough already as it is.
_____________________________________________________

Q. You are on the Fed Cup team and your sister is not. A bit surprising for us.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Is it?

Q. Yes. Especially after Monday, where Venus talked so enthusiastically about being in Italy to play the final.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, I can’t answer for her. I can only answer for me. We’re just right now focused on this tournament and we’re just taking everything a day at a time.

Q. Don’t you think without Venus it will be a little bit more difficult, because the others are very young?
SERENA WILLIAMS: Well, Melanie Oudin is a great player, as well as Alexa Glatch. We have a great team. They got to the finals without us. I think Mary Joe Fernandez is doing a great job with the coaching. So something is going right.


huh Says:

Oh no, Venus lost again! :(


been there Says:

Chuck Says:

“Half of you didn’t want Venus or Serena on the Fed Cup team. Why whine about it now?”

erm…I’m a bit lost here…who exactly is whining? I haven’t seen anyone whining about it..at least not on this thread. Or do you mean tennis fans in general?


been there Says:

huh,

Did you watch the match? Venus had chances to come back in the 2nd set tie-break but she kinda blew it…obviously, Serena, as always, played great…but Venus gifted her some of those crucial points. One, (@2-0 to Serena) even I (hahaha, hehe) would have managed to put the ball away ‘coz Serena wasn’t anywhere near to retrieve it… gave Serena a 3-0 lead.

I hope Venus does well in Australia. It’d be great to see her with a big non-wimby trophy once more in the near future….hopefully the knees give her a break next yr! Anyway, congrats to Serena….she came to Doha with a big mission.

I’m just looking forward to Australia when everyone should be fit & fresh & we can get full matches with few retirements, both in the WTA & ATP.


Kimmi Says:

Venus and Serena matches are becoming predictable. You already know venus will manage to lose somehow…disappointing to say the least. Personally, I enjoy both sisters when they play other people not together.


sar Says:

Roger Federer and Chiudinelli to play doubles in Basel?

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