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Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka Withdraw from Doha

Feb 7th 2014
Serena Williams

The Premier Five tournament in Doha last year hosted a memorable final between the top two women of the WTA Tour, Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.  Long dominated by the American, Azarenka battled through in three sets to strike her first real blow in the central rivalry of women's tennis.  

This year, neither woman will return to the prestigious tournament on the shores of the Persian Gulf.  A day after Azarenka announced her withdrawal with a foot injury, the Doha event released the news that Serena has withdrawn with a back injury suffered at the Australian Open.  That injury appeared to significantly hamper the world No. 1 during her fourth-round loss to Ana Ivanovic, although Serena was reluctant to discuss the details afterward.  She has not yet released an official statement on her withdrawal from Doha.

With Maria Sharapova assisting NBC coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, this Premier Five tournament will lack the three leading stars of the women's game.  On the other hand, opportunity knocks for Australian Open champion Li Na to continue her undefeated start to the season.  Li will ascend to a career-high ranking of No. 2, no matter her result next week, as she passes Azarenka.  (Serena's vast lead at No. 1 will assure her the top spot for a long time to come.)  Or perhaps perennial bridesmaid Agnieszka Radwanska will seize the chance to start her 2014 season with a bang.  Outside that trio of absences near the top, Doha still will welcome a strong field that highlights the unprecedented depth of the WTA.

February tournaments often suffer from withdrawals, for they occupy an uncomfortable position between the season's first major at the Australian Open and the marquee North American tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami in March.  On the men's side, Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka has withdrawn from Rotterdam next week, while Australian Open finalist Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from Buenos Aires, the first of his scheduled South American clay tournaments.  Some reassuring news came from Juan Martin del Potro, however, who still plans to defend his Rotterdam title despite concern over a left wrist injury that troubled him in Melbourne.  Andy Murray's comeback from back surgery also continues to unfold as smoothly as one could expect, for he will appear in that indoor tournament next week as well.

Still, discretion is generally the better part of valor in February.  By erring on the side of caution, stars like Williams, Azarenka, and Nadal enhance their ability to produce their most formidable tennis when it matters most at the marquee events in North America next month.