Doha: Two-time defending champion and world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus is in contention to win the Diamond Ball trophy in Qatar.
The Qatar Tennis Federation will present the Diamond Ball trophy to the Qatar Total Open player who has won the tournament three times.
Azarenka is the only main draw player in contention to win this coveted trophy, as no other player had managed to do previously.
Azarenka first won in Doha in 2012 when she defeated Australia’s Sam Stosur in the final, 6-1, 6-2.
She returned last year to defend her title – which she did successfully by defeating American Serena Williams in the final, 7-6(6), 2-6, 6-3.
Azarenka is the holder of 17 WTA singles titles and six doubles titles. She has won the Australian Open two times (2012 and 2013) and reached the finals of the US Open twice (2012 and 2013).
She also has an Olympic gold medal for the Mixed Doubles title she won with Max Mirnyi at the 2012 London Games.
“It is very exciting to know that Victoria Azarenka could win the Diamond Ball trophy. It would be an incredible achievement to win the Qatar Total Open title three times and no player has been able to do so before. With the talented players in the draw, it is a very competitive field and will be an exciting week of tennis to see if Victoria can defend her title and win the Diamond Ball trophy as well,” Qatar Total Tournament Director, Saad Al Mohannadi said of this year’s potential Diamond Ball trophy winner.
The Peninsula
