The women's tour has several questions which will take some time to answer.

The conclusion of the 2009 WTA season should be exciting in Doha and Bali.  Looking ahead past those events however and into the futures market for 2010 should raise a lot of questions.  Here are some of the questions that tennis fans should be asking themselves at the moment and hopefully Doha results will provide at least some insight.

3.  Which of these aging stars, if any, will drop down the furthest in 2010?

A.  Elena Dementieva
B.  Venus Williams
C.  Serena Williams

Serena Williams is currently ranked number 1 in the world so she is a safe bet to be a top player on tour for awhile still.  Elena Dementieva is the fittest player on the WTA tour, so even as she gets late in her 20's she should still be a producing quality results.  If you look at Venus Williams however her results are already starting to dip and her ranking recently slid down to 4th in the world.  That slip might be the beginning of the end of Venus as she will turn 30 next year.  If V. Williams doesn't 'hold her own' in Doha, then she would have to be abandoned in the futures market.

2.  Which of these three young and rising stars has the best chance of taking down a Grand Slam in 2010?

A.  Melanie Oudin
B.  Caroline Wozniacki
C.  Victoria Azarenka

While Melanie Oudin captivated her fellow Americans at the US Open with her deep run she's still barely hanging onto a top 50 spot on the overall tour.  She has failed to qualify for a main draw since Flushing Meadows.  First she fell in Tokyo to Jill Craybas (ranked 85th) and then she fell in Beijing to Alexa Glatch (ranked 109th).  Oudin is the youngest of the three players listed above and so she still has time to grow but 2010 won't be the year for her to take down a major.

Wozniacki and Azarenka are both already forces on tour.  Both have qualified for Doha and should provide tough competition there.  Wozniacki looks more likely to win a Grand Slam in 2010 than Azarenka however because of her, Wozniacki's, breakthrough at the US Open.

1.  How good will Justine Henin be?

This question won't be answered in Doha as Henin won't be there.  However when a player of Henin's calibre makes a return it throws a real curveball into the futures market.  This question will only be answered when Henin starts playing in big time matches again, against quality opponents.

For updated odds on WTA tennis futures, go to bet365.