The WTA Qatar Open bid farewell to two big-names on Wednesday as defending champion Vera Zvonareva and former world No.1 Jelena Jankovic both bowed out in Doha.

Zvonareva was forced to abondon her quest to retain her crown as she was forced to pull out injured in her second round clash against Monica Niculescu, while Jankovic crashed out in straight sets to Shahar Peer.

Zvonareva, 27, the winner in Doha 12 months ago after defeating then world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, limped out with a left hip injury when 3-2 down in the second set having already surrendered the first 7-5.

It was the second time the sixth seed has called it quits in as many weeks as she was also forced to pull out of her quarter-final against Niculescu’s fellow Romanian, Sorana Cirstea, in Pattaya.

Jankovic’s dip in form in recent months shows no signs of subsiding as the No.8 seed fell to Peer 7-6 (7/4), 6-2.

There were no such problems for fourth seeded Agnieszk Radwanska of Poland as she dispatched Great Britain’s Anne Keothavong with ease 6-1, 6-2,  while French fifth seed Marion Bartoli also had it easy, beating Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-2, 6-0.