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By Erik Gudris                                            Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve

(February 13th, 2012) If it feels odd that the WTA is back in Doha already, don't worry you're not the only one. Now celebrating it's tenth anniversary, the Qatar Total Open moved up on the tour calendar by a couple of weeks, but it hasn't stopped a majority of the top women from showing up including the new No. 1 Victoria Azarenka who's probably hoping to make some better memories for herself than she has on her previous trips there, including a dismal early round loss to Daniela Hantuchova in 2011.

But last year wasn't the only time Azarenka put up a lackluster result in the desert city. Doha used to be the host of the WTA Championships and "Vika", while among the elite eight competing for the final big title of the season, would often bear the brunt of comments that despite being one of the best players in the world, she had little to show for it in terms of memorable results. That's all changed with Azarenka's title run in Melbourne last month that propelled her to the top of the rankings and, for better or worse, has put the bullseye square on her back for the other women to aim for.

With all the focus on Azarenka as to how long she will reign and if she can become even more well-known outside the sport itself, the glaring media spotlight is slightly turned away from the previous "queen" Caroline Wozniacki now that she has sunk to No. 4 in a spot many feel is at long last her rightful place in the rankings.

And that could be good for Caroline. Don't forget it's events like Doha that Wozniacki has made her reputation on -- being consistent and reaching the finals or better while players like Azarenka have fallen short in the early rounds. If anything Azarenka will feel the pressure to put up a decent week while Wozniacki can for the first time in over two years swing away without having to answer so many pesky questions about why she hasn't won a Major, at least she hopes.

It's not quite a full house in Doha with Petra Kvitova, who most everyone assumed would be No. 1 by now, out with an Achilles tendon injury. Maria Sharapova and Li Na are also sitting out but the rest of the big names are here. Aside from the top two seeds, it's really a toss up as it usually is at a WTA event on who to watch out for.

Will Sam Stosur bounce back from her horrendous month down under? And can Agnieszka Radwanksa sneak into another final when no one expects it? With Angelique Kerber and Marion Bartoli probably exhausted from their long Paris final, could someone like Sabine Lisicki or Svetlana Kuznetsova, who are in the same section of the draw as Bartoli and Kerber, take advantage and find themselves a surprise semifinalist, if they get past Wozniacki?

Whatever happens, this week will all be about Azarenka in her new role as the best women's player in the world. The honeymoon is over for Queen Victoria. Now it's back to work.

 

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