Twelve months ago one of my first Net Talk columns raised the issue of a lack of interest in the WTA's season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.

Sparse crowds plagued the event in 2008 and while things may have improved slightly so far this year, is been far from a full house during the group stages.

It's likely to be a stark contrast at London's O2 Arena next month when the equivalent ATP Tour showpiece rolls into town for the first time.

It's being suggested that full houses of nearly 20,000 will be the norm in Greenwich, a far cry form the attendances in Qatar.

Clearly the WTA took their elite championships to the Middle East for a reason, largely the financial boost which the host country is providing.

Yet there have to be worries. As well as attendance, the tournament's media profile is well down on its male counterpart.

Now there's a clear argument that while the men's game is thriving in an golden era led by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, the women's is struggling with no clear leader and a lack of true quality in the top 10.

Yet the WTA Tour has provided what most fans would describe as the story of the 2009 tennis season.

While the men's side has produced some memorable contests - the Australian Open and Wimbledon finals immediately springing to mind - it lacked the sensational comeback of new 'mom' Kim Clijsters, who marched to US Open glory in just her third tournament in more than two years. It was one of the great sporting stories of the year.

Sadly for the WTA a lack of foresight on their part has meant Clijsters is not present in Doha this week and their tournament is suffering because of it.

The Belgian's presence would have raised its profile hugely. Instead her one and only appearance since that Flushing Meadows triumph (in Luxembourg last week) caused barely a ripple.

The reason for Clisjters' absence is she did not finish in the year's top eight - not surprising given she only played in four tournaments - and this event is for the elite octet only.

Yet had Clijsters won the men's US Open out of nowhere, she would have been eligible to play in the ATP's World Tour Finals in London.

The ATP 'reserves' up to two places for such unlikely Grand Slam winners, but such a proviso is not in the WTA rulebook.

I may come across as being something of a 'Hindsight Harry' for raising the Clijsters issue now - after all very rarely has the ATP needed its rule to get Grand Slam winners into its tournament - but surely someone at the WTA must agree with my point.

But, sadly, a repeat next year remains a possibility.

When I put the point to the tour this week, a spokesman told me: "The Tour currently does not have plans to change the qualification procedures for our year-end Sony Ericsson Championships."

That seems a real shame.

The Championships are currently making the 'news in brief' columns of the UK's national newspapers right now. The presence of Clijsters may well have changed that, not to mention the undobuted extra bums she would have put on seats.

It is something the Tour needs to consider.

Do you agree with Andy? Has the WTA missed a trick and what else can it do to raise the profile of one of its showpiece events? Email your feedback to tennisfeedback@sportinglife.com