Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta are the third doubles team to secure a spot at the year-end TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, to be hosted the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey, Oct. 25-30.
Dulko/Pennetta join the teams of Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik and Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond, who have already qualified. The teams of Victoria Azarenka/Maria Kirilenko and Vania King/Yaroslava Shvedova are competing for the final doubles spot. The WTA”s year-end finale, to be held in Istanbul through 2013, will feature the world”s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams competing for the coveted title and a share of the $5 million in prize money. So far, Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Azarenka, Li Na, Vera Zvonareva and Sam Stosur have qualified in singles.
“Prior to the trip to Asia, we didn”t think we would have a chance to make it, but since then we”ve played very well and reached two finals,” said casino online Dulko.
The defending champs return to the season-ending event for the second time. Last year, they defeated Peschke/Srebotnik to take the title, one of seven titles they captured in 2010. At the start of the year, the duo won its first Slam doubles title at the Australian Open with a thrilling come-from-behind win over Azarenka/Kirilenko. They also reached back-to-back finals at the Toray Pan Pacific Open and the China Open. Dulko/Pennetta held the World No. 1 doubles ranking, either individually or jointly, from Nov. 2010 until Wimbledon.
