World Tennis News
Thursday, 5 February, 2009
Serena Williams has returned to the top of the WTA rankings after winning her 10th grand slam title at the Australian Open at the weekend.
This is the third time in Williams' career that she has reached the top in women's tennis, having held the position for a total of 61 weeks - 57 weeks from July 2002 to August 2003 and four weeks late last season.
This is the third time in Williams' career that she has reached the top in women's tennis, having held the position for a total of 61 weeks - 57 weeks from July 2002 to August 2003 and four weeks late last season.
"The 2009 Australian Open will definitely be one of the most memorable tournaments in my career," said Williams who won the hardcourt major for the fourth time. "I am thrilled with winning this title and the news of becoming number one is an added bonus."
The 27-year-old guaranteed herself the honour when she thrashed Russia's Dinara Safina 6-0 6-3 in Saturday's Australian Open final, which was a winner-take-all affair for the number-one ranking.
Williams moved into rarefied air with her triumph this weekend, as the only other players in the history of women's tennis to win 10 grand slams or more are Margaret Court, Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf.
The 33-time champion overtakes Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, who had been number one since knocking Williams out of the top spot in October.
Jankovic slipped to third as Safina replaced Williams as the new number two.
Guaranteed to be number one for at least the next two weeks, Williams has 9,432 ranking points, 282 clear of Safina with Jankovic 852 behind.
Russian Elena Dementieva, who lost to Williams in the Australian Open semi-finals, remains the world number four and her countrywoman Vera Zvonareva has reached a career-best ranking of fifth after an impressive run to the final four in Melbourne.
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