Serena replaces Safina on top of WTA rankings
Published: 06 October, 2009, 16:25
Dinara Safina (AFP Photo / Goh Chai Hin)
Russian 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.
After Dinara Safina’s loss to wild card Zhang Shuai at the China Open, Serena only needed to make it beyond the second round in the same tournament to return to the first place in the world rankings.
She faced another Russian, Ekaterina Makarova, who failed to help her compatriot, allowing the American to grab a two set win, 6-3, 6-2.
The new women’s ranking will be issued on Monday, October 12.
Serena Williams, who is the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon singles champion and has won 23 Grand Slams, has been the World No. 1 on four different occasions.
Dinara Safina got the top spot in the WTA rankings on April 20, 2009. Together with her elder brother Marat, they form the first brother-sister tandem in tennis history to both achieve World No. 1 rankings.
Safina risks losing her crownDinara 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. |
Tsonga too good for Youzhny, Kuznetsova best in BeijingIt's been a disappointing end to the weekend for Russian Mikhail Youzhny at the Japanese Open. |










