The player field is weak (only 4 Grand Slams between them, and only one former champion between them!!!), the crowds will most likely be non-existant, and since the move to Doha, the YEC has begun to feel more like an exhibition rather than a final showdown between the 8 best players in the world. But we’re not going to let that bring us down. After all, this is the final tournament in the year. After this week, for WTA fans it will just be that feeling of emptiness that ravages us throughout every off-season. So let’s enjoy it, and let’s savour it.

Caroline Wozniacki arrives at Doha in scintillating form and on a 10 match winning streak. After her humiliating defeat to Vera Zvonareva in New York, the Great Wall of Denmark bounced back by tearing down the field in her last two events, picking up two Premier+ titles in Asia and rising to number one for the first time in her career. However, even with almost 2000 extra points in the bag, she continues to suffer criticism from all sides. After all, Serena, Venus, Justine weren’t even present at any of her Premier+ wins this year, and an injured Kim was only part of one. The number one has been handed a kind draw again this year, and she shares the Maroon Group with newbies Francesca Schiavone and Sam Stosur, plus Elena Dementieva.

One thing interesting thing is seeing how both Francesca Schiavone and Sam Stosur perform in their debut WTA Championships. After their French Open final in June, both struggled to consolidate their form and move forward, immediately slumping to first round defeats at Wimbldon. However, there have been signs of rejuvenation since then. Both are capable of defeating Wozniacki, Dementieva and indeed each other in this group, but they will have to be ready to play their best tennis from the word “go”. Schiavone will look to weave her web of variety, neutralizing her opponents with slice, creating angles and moving into the forecourt. Stosur on the other hand, will need to steal back the discipline and straightforward plan that took her to the finals of the French Open; serving topspin bombs and crushing her forehands. Sounds so easy on paper, doesn’t it?

As for Dementieva, her record at the WTA Championships speaks for itself. That coupled with the fact that she arrives in Doha with a foot injury and in poor form means that it wouldn’t be smart to bet on her this week. Still, this is certainly the perfect draw to play her into form. She recently defeated Schiavone, and her matches against Stosur will always be a toss-up. The big question mark for me is whether she can take down Wozniacki. She has had so much trouble with the Dane over the last couple of years, and while her backhand is nowadays capable of only hitting crosscourt (thus playing to Wozniacki’s strength), the problem isn’t really a stylistic problem. Rather, it’s that pretty little head of hers. If she can put Wozniacki away when they do play each other tomorrow, then it will be clear that she is mentally checked in and ready to make a battle of this final tournament of 2010. If not, then she should be looking for a plane home to Russia ASAP. All shall be revealed shortly.