Serena crowned No.1 as desert duel goes flat

By Martyn Herman

DOHA (Reuters) - The anticipated duel in the desert for the world number one spot failed to materialise at the WTA Championships Wednesday as Dinara Safina withdrew with a back injury to gift the prize to American Serena Williams.

Safina's tearful exit after just two games of her first group match against Jelena Jankovic meant 11-times grand slam champion Serena was assured of ending the year top of the pile for the first time since 2002 even before she beat sister Venus later in a midnight thriller.

"My body just gave up," the 23-year-old Safina told reporters after her hopes of becoming the first Russian to finish a year as world number one came to a painful end at the elite year-ending showpiece.

"I did everything possible to play here but I could not handle this pain any more."

Serena's opening round-robin victory against Svetlana Kuznetsova Tuesday meant she held a 75-point lead over Safina in the rankings and though the Russian gained 70 just for walking on court against Jankovic, the battle was over.

Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Serena virtually sealed her place in the semi-finals here with a 5-7 6-4 7-6 defeat of Venus to go top of Maroon Group -- a result that left her sibling's hold on the title hanging by a thread after her loss to Elena Dementieva Tuesday.

When told of Safina's misfortune during a courtside interview, Serena looked genuinely shocked.

"It's a great feeling (to be world number)," the 28-year-old said. "But Dinara is such a great player that she must be really hurt because she never gives up.