Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams headline a strong field for the WTA's Qatar Total Open that features 17 of the top 18 players in the world beginning here on Monday.
Belarussian Azarenka, fresh off her second straight title in Melbourne, is the tournament's top seed and defending champion, with 15-time Grand Slam champion Willliams seeded second. The world's No. 1 ranking could change hands here as Williams seeks to regain it for the first time in 2½ years.
Williams ended 2012 on a major roll, having won Wimbledon, the Olympics, the U.S. Open and the WTA Championship singles titles. She was favored at the Australian Open, but was knocked out in the quarterfinals by upstart compatriot Sloane Stephens, who is the 16th seed here. Williams has won 56 of her last 59 singles matches.