Resurgent Pe’er eyes season-finale trip to Qatar

23-year-old Israeli is currently sitting in 13th place in the season-long race to qualify for the end-of-year tournament.

By ALLON SINAI, AP
After climbing to a career-high No. 13 in the world on Monday, Shahar Pe’er has now got her sights set on reaching the prestigious WTA Championships in Doha for the first time in her career.
Based on the ranking points she has collected in 2010, the 23-year-old Israeli is currently sitting in 13th place in the season-long race to qualify for the end-of-year tournament.
Only the top eight point-getters will participate in the Doha event, but with several top players shelved with injuries, and two alternates to also travel to the Persian Gulf, Pe’er seems to be well placed to reach yet another landmark achievement.
In related news, Serena Williams announced Monday that she will likely miss the rest of the 2010 season because her injured right foot hasn’t healed properly.
Williams said she “re-strained” her foot by overtraining.
“In order not to make this worse, I have to chill on my physical workouts, but I will immediately begin rehabbing as soon as I get the doctor’s OK.
Last week, Williams’ older sister Venus said she will miss the rest of the 2010 season because of an injured left knee.
Serena, the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion, played only six tournaments this year and lost her No. 1 ranking to Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki when the WTA released the new list Monday.
Also on Monday, Wozniacki beat Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to win the rain-delayed China Open final.
Wozniacki converted three of her four break-points, one more than her Russian opponent, in a match that had been postponed due to torrential downpours on Sunday.
Zvonareva led 3-1 in the first set before losing five straight games.
Wozniacki broke Zvonareva in the first game of the third set and again to take a 3-0 lead.
Earlier in the day, top-seeded Novak Djokovic defeated David Ferrer of Spain 6-2, 6-4 to defend his title in the men’s tournament.