WTA Tour

DOHA, Qatar - Elena and Serena resume their rousing rivalry on day three of the Sony Ericsson Championships, while 2009 runner-up Vera Zvonareva is back in the frame too.

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WHITE GROUP

[9] Vera Zvonareva vs. [4] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Zvonareva leads 1-0
On Wednesday against Victoria Azarenka, Wozniacki recovered from serving balls that bounced before reaching the net to record one of the most stunning wins of her young career. It was a major act of mind over matter by the 19-year-old, who seemed to be on the verge of retirement in the first set, her leg heavily strapped; in the end it was her refusal to go away that rattled Azarenka, and it might take similar heroics today. Twelve months ago Zvonareva had one of the best weeks of her career at Doha, and had it not been for an ankle injury would surely have qualified in a canter this year. As it happens, Wozniacki was one of her victims on her great title run at Indian Wells and intriguingly, she can still score two wins in the round robin - so she still has a shot at the semis. But having expected to remain on the benches, can she muster the intensity?

MAROON GROUP

[2] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [5] Elena Dementieva (RUS)
S.Williams leads 6-4
These two tend to deliver great matches - their recent Wimbledon semifinal being an obvious example - and judging by the form both have shown so far this week another classic could be on the cards. Since that epic encounter on the grass in early July, Dementieva has had revenge on the hardcourts at Toronto, and indeed her cause should be helped by the surface at Doha. But, while the Russian can more than match Serena stroke for stroke off the ground, she'll need to serve better today than she did against Venus, who had her own problems on delivery. Serena says she arrived at the season finale feeling fresher than she ever has at the end of a season, and will no doubt be energized by the news she has secured the year-end No.1 ranking. She'll know this is exactly the sort of match she must win to underline that point.

[3] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) vs. [7] Venus Williams (USA)
Kuznetsova leads 4-3
Kuznetsova certainly had her chances against Serena on Tuesday, gaining breaks in both sets and actually holding set point in the opener. The Russian's fans can only hope that the disappointment of her eventual loss - which did nothing to help her poor record at the Tour Championships - has manifested as extra determination to do better today. In her favor, the reigning French Open champion has a positive head-to-head against Venus, her last win over the American coming in the quarterfinals at Miami this year. What's more, Venus wouldn't be human if she hasn't been affected, physically and mentally, by her grueling losses to Dementieva and Serena in the past couple of days. Still, with her title defense slipping away, the 29-year-old will be playing for pride - and that's when she's at her very best.

Click here for the TV Schedule for the Sony Ericsson Championships - Doha 2009!