Stosur Stomps Out Wozniacki’s Bid to Clinch No. 1

Caroline Wozniacki needed a win today to lock-up the 2010 No. 1 ranking, but Aussie Samantha Stosur prevailed 6-4, 6-3 in the WTA Championships in Doha. ADHEREL

“Anytime you beat the No.1 player in the world it’s a good thing,” said Stosur who is 2-0 thus far in the round-robin competition. “It’s so exciting to be here. Everything seems to be coming together. Hopefully I can keep playing like this.”

Wozniacki, the current No. 1, won her opening match yesterday and a win today would have secured the No. 1 ranking over Vera Zvonareva.

“I think I had break points in almost every game in the first set, and I didn’t take any of them. Sam had one and she took it,” Wozniacki said after the match. “I never like losing. I prefer to win. But Sam was playing well today and it was tough. Hopefully I can win tomorrow so I can be through to the semifinals.”

With Vera Zvonareva also winning today – she beat Victoria Azarenka 7-6, 6-4 – Wozniacki will have another chance tomorrow to clinch No. 1 by defeating Francesca Schiavone in her final round-robin match.

In the other White Group match, playing in her first tournament since her US Open triumph, Kim Clijsters easily beat the ailing Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-2.

“It wasn’t my best tennis, but it was good enough,” said the two-time champion Clijsters. “I felt I did a lot of good things, and there are a few things I need to tweak. The more matches I get, the better.”

Tomorrow, Championships debutant Stosur can win the Maroon Group by defeating Elena Dementieva. Should Wozniacki lose tomorrow, Zvonareva would overtake her for the No. 1 ranking by winning on Friday and going on the take the tournament title Sunday.

Thursday’s schedule:
Samantha Stosur vs. Elena Dementieva
Caroline Wozniacki vs. Francesca Schiavone
Kim Clijsters vs. Victoria Azarenka