Quick thoughts on Saturday's semifinalists, two of which are now done for 2010:
Vera Zvonareva (lost to Wozniacki 7-5, 6-0): Tough way to end a fantastic season. She didn't lose a set in round-robin play and held a set point in the first today against Wozniacki. She lost that, then the set, then every game thereafter. But hey, the No. 1 should beat the No. 2, right? And it could have been worse for Zvonareva—another loss in a prestigious final would have been crushing.
Caroline Wozniacki: With no Slam title this season, tomorrow's final is an important match for the world No. 1. Win or lose, she'll have to field questions about whether she deserves her ranking, but a victory would end an undeniably successful season on a very high note. Plus, she's playing Clijsters, who defeated the Dane in their only meeting, the 2009 U.S. Open final. It's not the biggest match of Wozniacki's career, but it would be her biggest win.
Sam Stosur (lost to Clijsters 7-6 (3), 6-1): Like Zvonareva, Stosur went missing in the second set today. But her play in the first—Clijsters' pre-match scare notwithstanding—and throughout Doha was quite encouraging. We expected Wozniacki, Zvonareva and Clijsters to reach the weekend; Stosur was a wild card. At times, she looked the most impressive of them all. Too bad she'll mostly be remembered for being Elena Dementieva's final conquest.
Kim Clijsters: If a car crash didn't stop her, what chance do you give Wozniacki? I think Clijsters, who announced that she'll retire after the 2012 Olympics, will win tomorrow—like Serena Williams, when Clijsters commits and plays, she usually wins. Wozniacki will trouble Clijsters with her defense, but her offense isn't in the same league. And against Clijsters, a player who will inevitably get hot at some point, that's an accident waiting to happen.
—Ed McGrogan