• WTA Championships

Wozniacki destroys Dementieva in Doha

A combination of Caroline Wozniacki and the heat proved too much for Elena Dementieva © Getty Images

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• Profile: Elena Dementieva | Jelena Jankovic | Francesca Schiavone | Sam Stosur | Caroline Wozniacki | Vera Zvonareva

Elena Dementieva and her faltering serve were blown away 6-1 6-1 by world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki at the WTA Championships.

In the first game of the Maroon Group, Wozniacki produced a dominant display to win in just 54 minutes.

Dementieva's serve makes painful viewing and that was replicated by the stats, as she made just 60 per cent of first serves and hit five double faults. Wozniacki needed no second invitation and broke on five occasions.

The Russian also struggled on the ground, particularly on the backhand wing, and she did appear hampered by a problem. Time and again Dementieva played drop shots which was a clear sign of her discomfort, but Wozniacki showed no mercy as she wrapped up victory at a canter.

"I am happy with that," Wozniacki said. "It was good to get the win on the board. I am just trying to go out and stay aggressive."

Vera Zvonareva made a stunning start to her campaign with a 6-3 6-0 win over Jelena Jankovic. The Russian came into the contest as the No. 2 seed and she lived up to her billing as favourite for the White Group with a demolition job on Jankovic.

Jankovic struggled for fitness last week and she again appeared jaded, but that should not detract from Zvonareva who was totally dominant throughout and wrapped up victory in style.

"It's an amazing feeling to win my first match of this year's WTA Championships," Zvonareva said. "All the players are very tough here and everyone who made it to the final eight deserves to be here. I was just trying to do my best on the court today - it always looks easy from the side, but the first set was really long and we had some great rallies today."

The final game on day one saw Sam Stosur battle back from losing the first four games to run out a 6-4 6-4 winner over Francesca Schiavone. In a repeat of this year's French Open final Stosur had her revenge to put herself in with every chance of qualifying for the semi-finals.

"It happened pretty quick and before I knew it I was 4-0 down, so it was a good comeback," Stosur said. "It is very humid and you are sweating a lot and struggling to breathe, but you drink a lot and I have been here for a while so it is okay."

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