World number one Jelena Jankovic is among those who hope that the presence of the world's leading players at the WTA season ending Championships here this week can have a beneficial effect upon the aspirations of women in the Gulf region.

The top-seeded Jankovic will compete alongside the Williams sisters and former world number one Ana Ivanovic in the eight-player WTA tour climax, which is situated for the first time in an area where women's status sometimes comes under fire from western values.

"I think overall women should be respected as much as the men, and have the same values as the men," said Jankovic.

"I hope that we can be a good influence for the change, for the women here so that they can have more respect, and that things will change in the future for them."

Jankovic's fellow competitor Serena Williams, the US Open champion, was careful to qualify her comments so that they did not appear like criticisms of a single country.

"I have not been able to meet many women here, and I can't sit here and comment on exactly the hardships of the female that happens in Qatar," the younger Williams sister said.

"I've heard some things I should say, rather, of females that happens in the Middle East.

"But seeing what our country is going through right now - having an opportunity to have a female as a vice president (Republican Sarah Palin), and obviously myself having always been a supporter of the betterment of women in general, I would like to just continue to see it grow around the globe. Where would we be without women?"

Serena's elder sister Venus Williams, the Wimbledon champion, has been a strong supporter of equal prize money for women at the Grand Slam tournament in London, which last year became the last of the four majors to change to equal pay with men.

Venus has also been a frequent advocate of women's rights.

But she was cautious about promoting them in the Middle East, even though this week's event is the biggest tennis tournament ever held in the region, and the first time the women's year-end championships has had equal money with the men's (4.5 million US dollars).

"You know, I'm not exactly sure that we're here to change perceptions," said Venus.

"I think every country has their way of doing things. I don't think it's really our job to come here and tell everyone how to do things and to change mindsets.

"But we are here to play great tennis and to be a good role model and as women to be entertainment. Anything else might be a little bit beyond our reach and influence," she said, employing some of the diplomatic skill honed through having been the leader of the UNESCO and WTA join campaign for gender equality in sport.

The WTA Tour is the flagship of the world's most successful and popular professional sport for women, which goes to 60 tournaments in 34 countries.