[Automobill]

If Agnieszka gets to that 8th spot, would Doha try to give that wildcard to Kim?

Why? Do you think Doha organizers care more about Vera?

[bobibnoxx]

Why? Do you think Doha organizers care more about Vera?

I'm sure they'd pick Kim over her, too, but she was in the Doha (normal tournament) final in 2008 and in the YEC last year, so, yes.

[leacturavar]

Have the Williamses ever played doubles at the YEC? I don't remember it recently, doesn't mean it didn't happen though!

I'm assuming they WILL be playing?

[cigattIcTot]

Have the Williamses ever played doubles at the YEC? I don't remember it recently, doesn't mean it didn't happen though!

I'm assuming they WILL be playing?

They never have, according to their WTA activity profiles.

It would be great if they do, though.

[allvideO]

Have the Williamses ever played doubles at the YEC? I don't remember it recently, doesn't mean it didn't happen though!

I'm assuming they WILL be playing?

Yes, they will play for the first time

Q: You and Venus have qualified in doubles in Doha already, do you think this is a big achievement for you to play doubles and singles in year end?

　　A; It is definitely our goal to be doubles there, never played doubles at championship before. So we like to try and do everything in our careers at least once.

　　Q: Playing both singles and doubles, will this be a tight schedule for you?

　　A: Yes, very tight schedule. I prepared myself for that so if anything it will help me wake up, since last year I slept about 20 hours a day, I was miserable. This time I'll be playing a few more matches, it will be a little better for me.
http://www.chinaopen.com.cn/news/en/.../2209107.shtml

[allvideO]

A very tight race for 8th place: Jankovic 3555, Zvonareva 3550 and Radwanska 3330.

[carfAball]

If Jankovic or Clijsters gets in, it will be a refreshingly chump-free YEC for a change.

[BamSaitinypap]

Would Clijsters even play if offered the wild card? My guess would be no, but I have absolutely no evidence to back that up.

[allvideO]

If Jankovic or Clijsters gets in, it will be a refreshingly chump-free YEC for a change.

How will it be different?

[enrisaabsotte]

OCTOBER 12, 2009

DOUBLES TEAM OF RENNAE STUBBS AND SAMANTHA STOSUR QUALIFY FOR SONY ERICSSON CHAMPIONSHIPS – DOHA 2009

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The Australian duo of Rennae Stubbs and Samantha Stosur are the fourth and final team to qualify for the doubles event at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, set to take place for the second year in a row at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, from October 27-November 1, 2009. Stubbs and Stosur will make their debut at the Championships as a team and will join Dinara Safina, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva, Caroline Wozniacki, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams, Victoria Azarenka and the doubles teams of Cara Black/Liezel Huber, Venus Williams/Serena Williams and Nuria Llagostera Vives/Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, all of whom have previously qualified and are headed to Doha. The world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams from the 2009 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season will compete for the coveted Sony Ericsson Championships title and a share of the record Championships prize money of $4.55 million.

After a great deal of success with other partners, Stubbs and Stosur began their exclusive doubles partnership in the beginning of the 2009 season and have quickly accumulated great results. So far this year, the pair reached the finals at Wimbledon, the AEGON International (Eastbourne) and the Rogers Cup (Toronto). The Australian duo also reached the semifinals at the US Open, the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships (Dubai) and the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open (Madrid).

While this will be Stubbs and Stosur’s first appearance at the Sony Ericsson Championships as a team, Stosur has previously qualified for the year-end event three times and is a two-time Tour Championships doubles winner (2005, 2006), both with Lisa Raymond. This will be Stubbs’ 14th appearance at the Championships (1992-93, 1996, 1998-2002, 2004-08), having won in 2001 (with Raymond) and finished runner-up four times (2004, 2005 2006 each with Cara Black and 2008 with Kveta Peschke). Stosur has won 22 career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour doubles titles, 20 in partnership with Raymond, which included the 2005 US Open and 2006 Roland Garros in addition to two Sony Ericsson Championships (2005, 2006); her other two titles were won with Bryanne Stewart. Stubbs currently ranks 12th all-time with a total 59 career doubles titles, including the 2000 Australian Open, 2001 Wimbledon and 2001 US Open (each with Raymond), and 2004 Wimbledon (with Black).

“It’s a privilege to make it to the Sony Ericsson Championships,” said Stubbs. “I’ve qualified for the Championships many times with different partners, but this year it’s extra special to be playing in Doha with a fellow Australian.”

“We are really excited about clinching a spot at the Sony Ericsson Championships,” said Stosur. “Rennae and I only teamed up at the beginning of the year and it’s been a very rewarding partnership so far as we’ve achieved a lot of great results, qualifying for Championships being the best one so far.”

“Rennae and Sam both have track records of tremendous success in doubles, and it has been exciting to watch them team up this year and achieve great results,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. “I congratulate Rennae and Sam on qualifying for the Sony Ericsson Championships and look forward to seeing them compete with the best doubles teams in the world.”

“Congratulations to Rennae and Sam on the great 2009 season and clinching the last spot at the Sony Ericsson Championships for the first time in their joint doubles career,” said Aldo Liguori, Corporate Vice President and Head of Global Communications & PR for Sony Ericsson. “We look forward to these stars joining the previously qualified players and wish them luck at what promises to be a terrific finale to the season.”

Always at the forefront of innovation and style, Sony Ericsson, a global leader in communications entertainment and the title sponsor of the Tour, continues to awe tennis fans with its innovative marketing and trend-setting style, elevating the sport to unprecedented new heights. Sony Ericsson offers tennis fans around the world one-of-a-kind access to their favorite stars through innovative products that inspire fans to seek new experiences, enjoy immediate connection to their favorite players through social media networks, and make them believe that anything is possible. With the help of Sony Ericsson, this year’s Sony Ericsson Championships promise to further the sport to the next level and broaden the visibility and prestige of the event worldwide.

The Championships were first played in 1972 and since then the event has been held in such notable venues as Madison Square Garden, New York City; the Olympiahalle in Munich; Staples Center in Los Angeles; and the Recinto Ferial Casa de Campo in Madrid. Former singles champions include Tracy Austin, Kim Clijsters, Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, Gabriela Sabatini, Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Venus Williams.

Cara Black & Liezel Huber 9100 1**
Venus Williams & Serena Williams 6750 2**
Nuria Llagostera Vives & Maria José Martínez Sánchez 6396 3**
Rennae Stubbs & Samantha Stosur 5048 4**