Sports Reporter /Doha
Heading to Doha : (Clockwise from top) Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva and Maria Sharapova
Twenty out of the world’s top 30 players have confirmed their participation in the Qatar Ladies Open tennis tournament to be played at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex from February 21-26.
Confirming their participation are World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, World No. 2 Vera Zvonareva and World No. 16 Maria Sharapova, both from Russia, Belgian Justine Henin, Serbians Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic.
Wozniacki had a remarkable 2010 season when she clinched six titles to lead the WTA rankings. The Danish superstar is aiming to secure her first title in Doha after losing in the final of WTA Championships to Kim Clijsters 3–6, 7–5, 3–6 in November.
Zvonareva lost in five final appearances in 2010. Francesca Schiavone who won the 2010 French Open, and Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, who secured three WTA titles in the last two years including Cincinnati, Memphis and Indiana Wells, will also take part in the Qatar Ladies Open.
The former World No. 1 Sharapova, has won 22 WTA singles titles, three WTA doubles titles and three Grand Slam singles titles, but after suffering from a shoulder injury was forced out for long which affected her WTA ranking. She dropped out of the top 100, but soon bounced back to her current ranking of 16.
In 2009, Sharapova won three WTA titles and Qatar Ladies Open will provide a good opportunity for her to win her third crown here after winning in 2005 and 2008. The Belgian ace, Henin, has won 43 WTA singles titles and seven Grand Slam singles titles and led the WTA Standings before announcing her retirement in 2008.
Henin made a return to the WTA stage in early 2010, losing the final of the Australian Open against Serena Williams in only her 2nd tournament on comeback. The 28-year-old had won the Qatar Open in 2007 after beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final.
The tickets for the 2011 Qatar Ladies can be purchased through the official website of Qatar Tennis Federation www.qatartennis.org . From January 21, tickets will be available in Villaggio, City Center and Landmark as well as the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
players’ list
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark), Vera Zvonareva (Russia), Francesca Schiavone (Italy), Jelena Jankovic (Serbia), Victoria Azarenka (Belarus), Li Na (China), Justine Henin (Belgium), Shahar Peer (Israel), Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland), Nadia Petrova (Russia), Maria Sharapova (Russia), Marion Bartoli (France), Aravane Rezai (France), Maria Kirilenko (Russia), Ana Ivanovic (Serbia), Kaia Kanepi (Estonia), Yanina Wickmayer (Belgium), Flavia Pennetta (Italy), Svetlana Kuznetsova (Russia), Alisa Kleybanova (Russia) and Jie Zheng (China).