By Richard Pagliaro
© Tony Chang/Chang Photography

(October 20, 2010) Victoria Azarenka came face-to-face with her male doppelganger in a Minsk exam last week. Today, Azarenka withstood a Moscow test to secure her spot in the season-ending WTA Tour Championships in Doha. The second-seeded Azarenka survived 11 double faults and saved 18 of 25 break points to overcome Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, in a Kremlin Cup round of 16 win that booked her berth in Doha for the second straight season.

Defending Doha champion Serena Williams officially withdrew from the tournament yesterday after re-tearing the tendon in her right foot, leaving one spot open in the eight-player field. Azarenka trailed China's Li Na by five points at the start of the week for the first alternate spot. But Li's 6-4, 6-2 loss to 2006 champion Anna Chakvetadze yesterday, combined with Azarenka's victory today propelled the 21-year-old from Minsk into the season-ending tournament, which starts Tueday.

Azarenka joins Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva, Kim Clijsters, Samantha Stosur, Francesca Schiavone, Jelena Jankovic, Elena Dementieva and the doubles teams of Gisela Dulko/Flavia Pennetta, Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik, Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs and Vania King/Yaroslava Shvedova at the WTA Championships-Doha 2010.

"I am so happy! I was so nervous about this match and now that I am finally there, it’s a load off my shoulders," Azarenka said. "I am absolutely thrilled and look forward to going to Doha once again."

Azarenka admitted she was tight in a match that featured 44 break point chances. Calming her nerve in the final set, she won five consecutive games to close out the two hour, 38-minute match.

"My nerves were right on the edge," Azarenka said. "Every player wants to play in Doha and I'm happy I turned the match my way in the third set."

To prepare for Moscow, Azarenka underwent an exam in her hometown of Minsk and found a familiar name in her doctor.

"I went to the sports medical center in Minsk to get a few tests done before my Moscow trip, and the doctor’s name was Victor Azarenka," Azarenka said. "I thought it was kind of odd and unbelievable. Strange things happen!"

Eighth-seeded Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez scored a 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 win over Alona Bondarenko to advance to a quarterfinal clash with Dominika Cibulkova, who defeated Wimbledon semifinalist Tsvetana Pironkova, 6-4, 6-1.

"I'm really happy with the way I played and fought," said Sanchez. "The second set I lost 6-1 but all the games were really close. Sometimes you shouldn't think about the score, but just focus on the game and the way you are playing, and that's what I was able to do."

In August, Azarenka won her fourth career title with a 6-4, 6-1 silencing of Maria Sharapova in the Bank of the West Classic final at Stanford pitting two of tennis' top shriekers against each other.