Continuing our tradition from past year-end Championships, we analyze the players competing in the 2009 Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.  Everyone who qualified has had a very strong year, but the results of this final tennis tournament of the year matter in different ways for each of them.  So what’s at stake for each of the players listed below (in order of their final standing in the points race for the Championships)?  

Dinara Safina -  Despite finishing atop the points race, Safina, the current second-ranked player, desperately needs a strong showing in a major event against other top players to reestablish her own confidence.  Another meltdown could have repercussions into 2010, but a strong performance could jumpstart Safina’s career and propel her back to the top of the rankings.

Serena Williams – Although Serena tends to save her best tennis for majors and collected the 2009 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, she has only won the year-ender once.  Progressing further than Dinara Safina in Doha would give Serena the year-end Number One ranking for the second time in her career.  Serena will have to be on her best behavior because the ITF has still not ruled on her U.S. Open behavior.

Svetlana Kuznetsova – Winning her second Grand Slam title at the 2009 French Open was a highlight to Kuznetsova’s season and career, but has not led to more major wins… yet.  “Sveta” is definitely “back in the conversation.”  However, Kuznetsova needs to play consistently well in all the majors if she wants to earn the Number One ranking during her career and collect more Grand Slam titles in 2010 and beyond.  A win here would be another step in that direction.

Caroline Wozniacki – It’s a major accomplishment for the U.S. Open finalist and relatively new top tenner to qualify for the year-end Championships.  Given the record number of matches Caroline’s played at 26 tournaments this year coupled with her recent injuries, it may be a stretch to expect her to win the title this year. Regardless, Wozniacki will definitely want to win at least a match or two to show she belongs with the best.

Elena Dementieva – So close, but yet so far… Dementieva has reached Grand Slam finals and semis, but never won the year-end Championships.  Dementieva has played 21 tournaments, second behind Wozniacki, for the most played of the top eight competing in Doha this year, so Elena must be fatigued after a long season.  Nonetheless, perhaps a title here could lift Elena, as it has for other players in the past, into the winner’s circle at a Grand Slam in 2010.

Victoria Azarenka – As a new member of the top ten in 2009, Azarenka has shown that she can compete with the other top players.  After a sizzling start to the year, Victoria’s play has leveled off a bit in the past few months and she has only reached the quarters once since Wimbledon.  A strong result for the first-time entrant in the year-end Championships would be a great way to end her best season to date and position herself as a threat to win the 2010 Australian Open.  

Venus Williams – As the defending Champion at the year-end Championships in Doha, Venus should enter the tournament with confidence despite her spotty recent play.  Having lost her Wimbledon crown to sister, Serena, this year, Venus is without a major title in 2009.  A win in Doha would send Venus smiling into the off-season.

Jelena Jankovic – She started the year as the Number One ranked player, but then barely qualified for the year-end Championships, securing the final spot this week.  Jankovic has clearly struggled with her game, confidence and injuries this year suffering several disappointing losses, especially at the Grand Slams. Given Jelena’s style of play and the increased competition next year at the top of the women’s game from several former Grand Slam Champions, i.e. Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters and a healthy Maria Sharapova, Jankovic needs a strong run in Doha to confirm her place as a potential Grand Slam contender in 2010.