[ChrisGermany]

We´ve 3 so far qualified teams with

Kim/Ai
Virginia/Paola
Lindsay/Lisa

and the big battle between Sveta/Martina and Cara/Elena. The rest won´t have a chance to catch these 2, just by playing brilliantly within the indoor season.

By winning the Canadian Sveta and Martina improved in the rankings but Cara and Elena play play play (and don´t do that well compared to the past) and therefore I don´t know how many events Sveta and Martina are willing to play indoors (though starting with Leipzig is a good sign) and now that the Williams cannot play they are seeded 5th probably in NY and can go very deep in the event.

Anyone as interested as me in women´s doubles race for LA !?

 

[347]

Yeah, me! Its shaping up to be an interesting battle. Toronto was a godsend for Martina and Sveta and a good showing at Flushing Meadow is now essential (incidentally, if Martina does well, and Black/Likhovtseva dont do well - they're defending semi points - she could be back in the doubles top 10!). Its encouraging that sveta has dropped Bali from her commitments even though she's defending champion...she's obviously gonna concentrate on the indoor season where she can rack up the doubles points with Martina.

I think its a shame though that only four teams can qualify, as some good teams will miss out. If Martina/Sveta finish fifth, and say, Williams/Williams 6th or 7th, its a big loss to the tournament.

 

[sylvain]

I don't Have anything against Elena and Cara but I really hope it will be Martina and Steva the 4th qualifiers.

Why on earth it's not a tournament with 8 teams as last year!!!

 

[ChrisGermany]

The Williams decided never to play at the Chase in doubles so they would not have played at all.

Who I miss is ElenaD and LinaK who played unbelievable doubles tennis in Wimbledon against the Venus and Serena.

I think that the WTA rated doubles tennis at a time when you could not foresee how good the year would be for Martina but, on the other hand, rating her year with Sanchez and fighting to make it, I wonder what made them to change to 4 teams.

It´s the RoundRobin thing and the lack of time for doubles then therefore, ok, if you consider Lindsay and Kim, f.e., making it in both competitions.

I think though that doubles in the women´s game is as competitive as singles with most "stars" playing doubles. It´s interesting that a no-name team of Elena and Cara is famous for doubles in the last 5-6 years, same as Viriginia and Paola, and that doubles is still only about the "big" names. I wonder if the WTA forgot about the fact that 90% of the top10 in singles plays doubles regularly and that they should not have based a decision rather on the popularity of the competition but the stars in it.

 

[Dava]

I would not be supised if they made it an eight draw competition at the last momment, doubles is really popular. Well probably not in LA but not much tennis seems to be popular in LA.

 

[bandabou]

The Williams decided never to play at the Chase in doubles so they would not have played at all.

Who I miss is ElenaD and LinaK who played unbelievable doubles tennis in Wimbledon against the Venus and Serena.

I think that the WTA rated doubles tennis at a time when you could not foresee how good the year would be for Martina but, on the other hand, rating her year with Sanchez and fighting to make it, I wonder what made them to change to 4 teams.

It´s the RoundRobin thing and the lack of time for doubles then therefore, ok, if you consider Lindsay and Kim, f.e., making it in both competitions.

I think though that doubles in the women´s game is as competitive as singles with most "stars" playing doubles. It´s interesting that a no-name team of Elena and Cara is famous for doubles in the last 5-6 years, same as Viriginia and Paola, and that doubles is still only about the "big" names. I wonder if the WTA forgot about the fact that 90% of the top10 in singles plays doubles regularly and that they should not have based a decision rather on the popularity of the competition but the stars in it.

Lina and ELena D didn't even play that well...it's just that Serena and Venus were dead tired after they both played three-setters earlier!