Sharapova wins in Doha

Vera Zvonareva played well enough to take a set off of Maria Sharapova in today's final at the Qatar Total Open, but--despite some outstanding tennis from Zvonareva--Sharapova was too good. This is the first year that the Qatar Total Open is a Tier I event, and the win gives Sharapova six career Tier I titles, in addition to three Grand Slams and one Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Championships title. This was Zvonareva's first Tier I final.

It took Zvonareva an entire set to adjust to Sharapova's pace. In the second set, however, she became much more aggressive, and took advantage of Sharapova's service problems, her forehand, and her sometimes uncertain net play. The third set was all Sharapova, though: Sharapova def. Zvonareva, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0

In the doubles final, Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs defeated Cara Black and Liezel Huber, 6-1, 5-7, 10-7.

Sharapova and Zvonareva to meet in Doha final

The large Russian contingent at the Qatar Total Open will be torn tomorrow when two of their countrywomen vie for the 2008 title. Vera Zvonareva won her break-filled match against an ailing (respiratory virus) Li Na, and Maria Sharapova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska.

Both matches were worth watching. Li outplayed Zvonareva in terms of shot-making, but her tendency to make unforced errors--undoubtedly made worse by her illness-caused her to come up short. Sharapova had to work to put Radwanska away, but she did it in straight sets.

Sharapova leads, 4-3, head-to-head with Zvonareva.

Zvonareva def. Li, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
Sharapova def. Radwanska, 6-4, 6-3

Look out Agni--here comes Maria!

Maria Sharapova will get her chance to at least partially avenge her 2007 U.S. Open loss to Agneiszka Radwanska when the two meet in the Qatar Total Open semifinals tomorrow in Doha. Sharapova ran over the talented Caroline Wozniacki like a fast truck, and I expect her to put her foot a little harder on the gas pedal when she encounters Radwanska.

The other semifinal features Li Na, who defeated Jelena Jankovic (don't even get me started on that subject), and Vera Zvonareva, who beat Sybille Bammer. The Li-Zvonareva match should be interesting: Former top-ten player Zvonareva has an under-rated and stinging double-handed backhand that can do a lot of damage. Li can be a bit wobbly in the head part, but she has been holding up pretty well lately, and is capable of getting back a lot of balls. Zvonareva and Li, both of whom were out for a long time last season with injuries, have played each other twice before--including once in Doha--and Li won both times.

Ivanovic, as expected, withdraws from Doha

Ana Ivanovic, having sprained her left ankle yesterday, has withdrawn from the Qatar Total Open. This was the first time that Ivanovic was the top seed at a Tier I event.

Bagels in Doha

There was some bagel distribution in Doha today, too. Patty Schnyder beat Tamira Paszek, 6-4, 6-0; there is reason to believe that Paszek was not feeling well, which would account for her poor showing in the second set. Former top 10 player Ai Sugiyama defeated Agnes Szavay, 7-6, 6-0, and--though she won the match--Li Na also had a no-game set against Elena Likhovtseva, whom she defeated, 6-1, 0-6, 6-4.

Also, Sania Mirza retired today during her Qatar Total Open first round match against Olga Govorsova. Mirza was cramping, and finally had to stop playing. Govortsova def. Mirza, 4-6, 7-6, 3-2

And of note: Caroline Wozniacki defeated Marion Bartoli, 6-2, 6-3, in the first round.

Sick Petrova has to retire in Doha

Nadia Petrova, sick with gastritis, had to retire during her Qatar Total Open first round match against Anabel Medina Garrigues. Petrova has gastritis, and was unable to go on playing.

Medina Garrigues def. Petrova, 6-2, 1-2

Dangerous draw in Doha

The Qatar Total Open draw is out, and there are some struggling top players who should beware. Patty Schnyder, for example, has the bad luck to play Tamira Paszek in the first round. The talented and relentless Paszek defeated Schnyder in a tightly-contested third round in last year's U.S. Open. Amelie Mauresmo faces Sabine Lisicki, the German player whose game needs a lot of polishing, but who nevertheless knows how to inflict damage. And Lucie Safarova, whose fortunes go up and down, may find them going down again when she plays her first round against Dominika Cibulkova.

Other interesting first rounds of a different sort include:

Kateryna Bondarenko v. Eleni Daniilidou
Nadia Petrova v. Anabel Medina Garrigues
Francesca Schiavone v. Shahar Peer
Katerina Srebotnik v. Dinara Safina

Once the qualifiers are assigned, there may some more interesting first rounds.

The Doha tournament was upgraded to Tier I level this year.