The 2013 Qatar Total Open is the first tournament of Marion Bartoli's career without her father Walter by her side. The 28-year-old Frenchwoman won her opener against Francesca Schiavone 7-6(5) 6-3, even earning the Shot of the Day honor by the WTA, but today the ninth seed lost to Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-4, who's been rediscovering good results this year and came to Doha with two straight quarterfinals (Sydney and Melbourne).

Here's what Bartoli said about making the difficult decision to detach from her father's constant guidance:

I felt maybe at this stage of my career, when I have so much experience, I could maybe try a little bit more my way or differently. But I still love my dad. I still call him right after the match. …It’s a tough decision. I won’t say hard. I think tough. But, you know, at some point throughout my career I have been going through some tough decisions. That’s what helped me to be where I am right now… Read more »

In her first match since winning the Australian Open title, top seed and defending champion Victoria Azarenka overcame a 0-2 0-30 deficit in the opening set against Romina Oprandi to beat the Swiss 6-2 6-3 in the second round of the Qatar Total Open. During the off-season, Azarenka practiced in Doha for two weeks in December.

In the round of 16 Azarenka will face world No.44 Christina McHale, who upset seed No.17 Lucie Safarova. Azarenka and McHale played each other once, almost three years ago, and the American won the match when Azarenka retired while leading 6-2 2-2.

Additional info: Due to Azarenka’s controversial medical timeout in the Australian Open semifinal against Sloane Stephens, the WTA issued a statement that they are considering the reinvention of the medical timeout rule for the next season. They are expecting to reach a decision around the US Open. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

By upsetting fellow German Angelique Kerber 6-1 6-2 in the second round of the $2,369,000 Qatar Total Open, Mona Barthel not only defeated a sixth-ranked player for the first time, but she also recorded her 14th win of the season, tying Li Na for most match wins this year. Agnieszka Radwanska could join Barthel and Li on the top soon, if she beats Anastasia Rodionova today.

Kerber won the opening games of both sets, but after the initial break to start the match, Kerber won just one of the next ten games, missing aggression and falling to Barthel’s 30 winners to 12 unforced errors in just one minute over an hour.

It is Barthel’s third Top 10 victory in just two weeks, having beaten No.10 Marion Bartoli and No.7 Sara Errani en route to the Paris title. Her next opponent in Doha will be either tenth seed Caroline Wozniacki or Sorana Cirstea. (photo: janmci, stats via Moo's Tennis Blog)

At the 2013 Qatar Total Open, Maria Sharapova has a chance to overtake Victoria Azarenka as the No.1 WTA player and win an extra Diamond Ball trophy if she goes all the way to the title. The Russian started off well, with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 victory over Caroline Garcia in the second round.

Sharapova now has a perfect 10-0 win-loss record at the Qatar Total Open tournament, which she won on both her previous appearances, in 2005 and 2008. The organizers are providing an additional incentive to Sharapova if she wins the title for the third time – the Diamond Ball trophy. One more player in the field shares that opportunity with Sharapova, her fellow Russian Nadia Petrova, who also won her today's match, beating Andrea Hlavackova 6-2 6-3.

The No.1 ranking is up for grabs this week, so let's see the obstacles the three contenders have to face to win/retain the position:

• SERENA WILLIAMS' PERSPECTIVE: has to reach the semifinals or hope that Azarenka doesn't make the final and Sharapova doesn't clinch the title;
• VICTORIA AZARENKA'S PERSPECTIVE: has to reach the final for a chance to remain No.1;
• MARIA SHARAPOVA'S PERSPECTIVE: has to win the title and hope that Serena falls before the semis and Azarenka doesn't reach the final.

Serena was also in action today, testing the recovery level of her back and ankle injuries suffered during the Australian Open, and beat Daria Gavrilova 6-2 6-1 in the second round. Daria was barely born when Serena turned pro in 1995! After a first-round bye, defending champion Victoria Azarenka opens her campaign against Romina Oprandi. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

The Fed Cup weekend action determined the teams that will clash in the World Group semifinals set for April 20-21: Slovakia vs. Russia and Czech Republic vs. Italy.

Eleven years after helping Slovakia win the 2002 Fed Cup title, Daniela Hantuchova won both her singles rubbers against Serbia, which was short of Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic, and helped Slovakia clinch a 3-2 victory. Those two losses include a walkover in doubles and Dominika Cibulkova's retirement with a calf injury against Vesna Dolonc, when the Slovak was leading 6-4 5-4.

Russia scored a 3-2 against Japan, when the triumphant doubles team of Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova defeated Misaki Doi and Ayumi Morita 6-2 6-2 in the deciding doubles. In singles, Kimiko Date-Krumm had lost both her singles rubbers, against Maria Kirilenko and against Ekaterina Makarova, while Ayumi Morita won both hers, against Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. Read more »