New world number one Caroline Wozniacki is eager to put last year's bitter disappointment behind her at the WTA Championships in Doha.
World number one keen to avoid 2009 repeat
New world number one Caroline Wozniacki is eager to put the bitter disappointment of last year behind her at the WTA Championships in Doha this week.
Wozniacki was forced to retire from the tournament during the semi-final after suffering from crippling leg and stomach cramps.
But the 20-year-old, who earlier this month became the first Danish player to top the rankings, says she is in much better shape this time around.
Wozniacki has worked hard on her fitness over the past year and insists she is fighting fit, despite a gruelling schedule which has included recent stops in China and Japan.
"After I got back from Asia, I took five days off from tennis," she said on her personal website.
"I think I really needed a break so I just did some fitness work, mostly boxing with my trainer.
Improving
"Last year I had a great showing there, but had to retire in the semi-final due to a lingering injury.
"I'm 100 per cent healthy now, so I'm looking forward to improving my result from last year."
Wozniacki has been in a rich vein of form and victory at the season-ending finale in Doha, reserved for the world's top eight players, will see the Danish player seal her seventh title of 2010.
Her quest for the $1.5 million first prize will be made easier by the absence of the injured Serena and Venus Williams, although she will still have to compete with winners Kim Clijsters and Francesca Schiavone plus Vera Zvonareva, Jelena Jankovic, Sam Stosur, Elena Dementieva and Victoria Azarenka.
Belarussian Azarenka arrives in Doha on Sunday evening having clinched her second title of the year with victory at the Kremilin Cup in Moscow on Sunday.
Credibility
Serena, ranked second, has not played since her Wimbledon triumph in June and was forced to withdraw after aggravating a foot injury in training.
The absence of the younger Williams sister from the circuit remains the only shadow over Wozniacki's current status as world number one.
As the third woman in two years to reach the top spot without winning a grand slam, she will undoubtedly find it difficult to attain credibility until she has beaten the 13-time grand slam winner.
Venus misses out due to a nagging knee injury, while Serbia's former world number one Jankovic, who is struggling to overcome a virus, could also become a casualty ahead of the lucrative tournament.
