TheSportsCampus

We're down to a rather surprising final four at the Sony Ericsson Championships at Doha. New world no.1 Serena Williams will take on Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki and elder sister Venus squares off against Jelena Jankovic in the semi-finals of the year-end spectacle, with the Williams sisters looking strong favourites to compete in the championship match on Sunday.

While Serena and Venus' presence on the weekend of a major tournament should come as no surprise to tennis fans, the manner in which they progressed from the Maroon Group has been in sharp contrast. Serena had the day-off on Friday afternoon after winning three consecutive matches Tuesday through Thursday. Venus by contrast made th e semis through the back door. Looking dead and buried after losing her opening two matches in the tournament, Venus benefited from being hard to beat, taking a set off each opponent she lost to before defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in her last round-robin match.

She had to pray that Kuznetsova, already out of the tournament, beat Elena Dementieva in the final Maroon group match. A feat the French Open champion accomplished with ease hammering 7 aces in a 74 minute 6-3, 6-2 demolition. Dementieva had an uncharacteristically poor match, serving at just 45% and creating no break points on the Kuznetsova serve in the contest. The result sending defending champion, Venus, through.

The White Group too was exceptionally exciting - robbed off its prize asset Dinara Safina due to a back fracture on Day 2, three women came into the final day in radically different form and fitness with both semi-final spots up for grabs. Caroline Wozniacki, the darling of the crowds, had been the best player in the group on show. But after two consecutive marathon encounters, she limped off the court yesterday with her second win, still unsure of a place in the last four.

Her opponent in the opening match of the day, Jelena Jankovic, had barely made the tournament scraping through in the eighth and final spot, low on form, confidence and fitness. Following an opening day loss to Victoria Azarenka, Jankovic benefited from a free ride in the second round when Safina withdrew after just two games.

With a lifeline handed to her, Jankovic took it with both hands dropping just 4 games in a 68 minute thrashing of the young Dane, racing to the top of the White Group, and leaving an exhausted Wozniacki in danger of going out.

As Victoria Azarenka took on second substitute Agnieszka Radwanska in the final encounter of the day, Wozniacki's fear appeared to becoming a reality as the Belarusian raced to a 6-4, 5-2 lead. Radwanska, however, was hardly about to roll over and play dead. She would later say that playing to help her best friend (Wozniacki) qualify, was an added motivation as rattled off 9 of the next 10 games to win not just the second set with 5 straight, but pull ahead 4-1 in the decider. With her fate virtually decided, an exhausted Azarenka withdrew because of cramps, sending a deserving Wozniacki through.

While Caroline and Jelena might have made it into the last 4, their form and fitness still remains a question mark as they head into Saturday against two prime athletes who are very used to winning. While appearing odds on favourites to come through their semi-finals, the super sisters also have another contest on their hands as they team up to take on Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez in the doubles event. Take a bow Richard Williams!

Friday's Scores:

WHITE: (8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (4) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 62 62
WHITE: (10) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (6) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 46 75 41 retd.
MAROON: (3) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d. (5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 63 62

Saturday's Schedule:

1. Cara Black/Liezel Huber vs. Samantha Stosur/Rennae Stubbs
2. Venus Williams vs. Jelena Jankovic
3. Serena Williams vs. Caroline Wozniacki
4. Nuria Llagostera Vives/María José Martínez Sánchez vs. Serena Williams/Venus Williams

File Photograph: Madrid Open