Half of the line-up for the WTA's end-of-year championships in Doha later this month is in place following confirmation that Serena Williams and Kim Clijsters have qualified for the event. A showdown between the Clijsters and Serena, still ranked world No 1 despite prolonged inactivity because of a cut in her foot, would be the ideal finale to the women's tour in what has been less than memorable in 2010.
Their meeting in the semi-finals of last year's US Open - which produced a shameful outburst by Serena when Clijsters was on the verge of reaching the final, which she eventually won - ranks among the juiciest moments in recent WTA history. Clijsters, who repeated her US Open success last month, was effectively assured of her seventh Tour finals appearance by that third grand slam title. Vera Zvonareva's second-place finish in New York also booked her ticket, along with her predecessor as US Open finalist, Caroline Wozniacki.
The Qatar Tennis Federation, hosting the event for the third and final year, will watch keenly next week as most of the world's leading women jostle for rankings points in the China Open. Venus Williams, despite not playing competitively since her US Open exit, looks secure as does Jelena Jankovic. What happens in Beijing over the next few days will determine who claims the remaining two places. wjohnson@thenational.ae
