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Page last updated at 19:55 GMT, Friday, 29 October 2010 20:55 UK

Vera Zvonareva beats Kim Clijsters to stay unbeaten

WTA Championships, Doha
Dates: 26-31 October
Coverage: Live coverage on Eurosport (1430 BST) and WTA website, reports and photos on BBC Sport website


Vera Zvonareva
Zvonareva is the form player going into the last four

Vera Zvonareva beat Kim Clijsters in straight sets to ensure she heads into the WTA Championships semi-finals as the only unbeaten player.

The Russian, ranked second in the world, won 6-4 7-5 to win the White Group with a perfect 3-0 record.

Clijsters had already qualified but defeat means she will face Maroon Group winner Sam Stosur in the last four.

Zvonareva will take on world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the semi-finals on Saturday.

"Caroline is a great player, she's number one in the world," said the Russian. "I know if I play my best tennis I can beat anyone on the other side of the net, but I know it's not easy to produce your best tennis every day."

Clijsters had been on court until past midnight the previous day as she battled past Victoria Azarenka, and the Belgian admitted she had felt the effects.

606: DEBATE

"You know, obviously last night's match was pretty tough and I kind of just felt it today," said the US Open champion.

"So obviously I'm going to have to feel much better, and then just going to have to get my energy back. I kind of just felt flat out there today.

"I have the morning off, kind of, and I'm going to really use that time to recover and to be as fresh as possible."

In Friday's first match, Francesca Schiavone beat Elena Dementieva 6-4 6-2 in the Maroon Group but the match was effectively a dead rubber as neither woman could progress.

The most significant news came afterwards when Olympic champion and world number nine Dementieva announced her retirement from the sport.

Azarenka defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-4 6-1 in the day's final match, but again both players were only playing for ranking points - and the US$200,000 on offer for a match win - as their chances of reaching the semis had already gone.


Saturday's order of play (from 1300 BST):

1. Raymond/Stubbs v Peschke/Srebotnik
2. Kim Clijsters v Samantha Stosur (Not before 1530 BST)
3. Caroline Wozniacki v Vera Zvonareva
4. Dulko/Pennetta v King/Shvedova (Not before 1530 BST)



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see also
Dementieva announces retirement
29 Oct 10 |  Tennis
Wozniacki seals year-end top spot
28 Oct 10 |  Tennis
WTA Championships photos
31 Oct 10 |  Tennis
Wozniacki suffers shock WTA loss
27 Oct 10 |  Tennis
Top seeds dominate at WTA finals
26 Oct 10 |  Tennis
Wozniacki takes spotlight in Doha
25 Oct 10 |  Tennis
Wozniacki secures number one spot
07 Oct 10 |  Tennis
Serena ends Venus reign in Doha
01 Nov 09 |  Tennis


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