Safina risks losing her crown
Published: 05 October, 2009, 20:13
Top seed Dinara Safina of Russia reacts after losing a point against Zhang Shuai of China, at the China Open in Beijing on October 5, 2009 (AFP Photo / Goh Chai Hin)
TAGS: Sport, Sharapova, Safina, Tennis
Dinara Safina left the court in tears after being beaten in the second round of the China Open. The world number one lost to local wild card Zhang Shuai, who is ranked 225 places below her.
7-5, 7-6 was the final score in Beijing, as Safina made 20 unforced errors and 12 double faults.
The loss means the Russian is set to lose her number one status if Serena Williams gets beyond the second round.
There is better news for Maria Sharapova, though. She has climbed 10 spots in the women's rankings and is now the world number 15, after victory at the Tokyo Open this weekend.
Maria was the first Russian to hold the top spot four years ago. At the moment it’s Safina who holds that world number one ranking. Just behind her are Serena and Venus Williams, respectively, with Elena Dementieva in fourth, Svetlana Kuznetsova fifth and fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva in seventh.
04.10.2009, 20:25
Davydenko claims first title in AsiaTop-seeded Russian tennis star Nikolay Davydenko has won the Malayasia Open, defeating Spaniard Ferando Verdasco. |
06.10.2009, 16:25
Serena replaces Safina on top of WTA rankingsRussian Dinara Safina has lost the first spot in the WTA rankings; with US tennis star Serena Williams to become the World No. 1 next week. |
