Both players have qualified in singles for the first time in their careers, having previously qualified and competed at the WTA Championships in doubles.
Stosur and Schiavone are headed to Doha along with Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and the doubles teams of Gisela Dulko/Flavia Pennetta and Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik, who qualified earlier. The world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams will compete for the coveted WTA Championships title and a share of the $4.5 million in prize money.
“I’m thrilled to make the WTA Championships in Doha. I’ve been there a few times for doubles, so to qualify in singles is very exciting. It’s always been a goal of mine to achieve this. It’s a privilege for me to compete against the best in the world,” said World No.8 Stosur.
Stosur’s Championships qualification comes on the heels of a career season, highlighted by numerous firsts. In 2010, she reached her first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros (l. to Schiavone), the first Australian woman to do so since Wendy Turnbull’s trip to the 1980 final of the Australian Open. Stosur achieved a career-high ranking of World No.5 on July 5, 2010, becoming the highest ranked Australian woman tennis player since Turnbull (February,1985).
“I’m excited and very emotional as this is a very special moment and to be able to share it with my team means so much to me,” said World No.6 Schiavone. “I want to live in this moment because it is one of the best in my life. Being able to go to Doha means that you are one of the best players in the world and that is a great feeling.”
2010 marked the best season in Schiavone’s accomplished career with her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros where she defeated Stosur and became the first Italian woman to win a major title, subsequently breaking into the Top 10. S
