The final event of the women’s tennis season started yesterday, with the top eight ranked players contesting a unique round-robin event in Doha. There are two groups in the competition and players will play the other competitors in their group, before the top two from each group advance to the semi-finals, with the winner taking home the $1.55 million prize money.

The Maroon group consists of Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Venus Williams and Elena Dementieva and the White group is comprised of Victoria Azareka, Dinara Safina, Jelena Jankovic and Caroline Wozniacki.

The first match ended in defeat for Venus as she lost to Elena Dementieva in three sets. Dementieva beat last year’s champion 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, and Venus will need to win her remaining two matches to stand any chance of progressing.

Serena won her encounter with Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6, 7-5, and the pre-tournament favourite looked to be in good form. Serena needs to win one more match than Dinara Safina to regain the no. 1 ranking, but she will have to negotiate a tough group first.

In the white group Victoria Azarenka continued her remarkable rise to prominence by easily beating Jelena Jankovic 6-2, 6-3. Azarenka is now favourite to win the white group at 11/20 (bet $20 to make $11 profit).

Serena is favourite for the tournament, priced at 11/5, with Elena Dementieva second at 8/1. Azarenka and world no. 1 Dinara Safina are next at 9/1. The losers yesterday, Kuznetsova and Venus have drifted to 10/1, whilst Caroline Wozniacki is at 16/1 and Jankovic at 20/1.

The Williams sisters clash on Wednesday, with Venus needing a victory. Serena is favourite at 4/7, whilst Venus is at 9/5.

Wozniacki also plays her first match on Wednesday against Azarenka, who is favourite at 1/2. Wozniacki is at 11/5. Safina plays against Jankovic on Wednesday. Safina is at 19/20 for the match, whilst Jankovic is at 11/10.

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Stored in: Tennis Betting, Women's tennis