Serena Williams will be back on top of the world rankings come Monday morning. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced today that the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion will recapture the top spot in women’s tennis.
Dinara Safina’s second round exit at the China Open gave Serena an opportunity to recapture the World No.1 ranking, which she secured by defeating Ekaterina Makarova in the second round. It will mark the fourth time in Serena’s career that she will be World No.1 and 73rd week overall, having held the top ranking for 57 weeks from July 8, 2002 to August 10, 2003; 4 weeks from September 8, 2008 to October 6, 2008; and 11 weeks from February 2 to April 19, 2009. “2009 has been a very good season for me during which I enjoyed some of the best wins of my career,” said Serena Williams. “Attaining the World No.1 ranking makes me want to work even harder and is ultimately the icing on the cake.” “Serena has achieved great results this year, impressing everyone with her gritty performances, especially at the Grand Slams. Regaining World No.1 ranking has been a goal of Serena’s and she’s worked very hard all year. I congratulate her on achieving this feat for the fourth time in her career,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.The 28-year-old American has had a stellar 2009 season, winning two Grand Slam singles titles (Australian Open and Wimbledon) and posting solid results at the other two Slams, falling to eventual champions at both (to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the US Open). 
US Serena Williams signs autographs to spectators after a match against Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the second round of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Williams defeated Makarova 6-3, 6-2 to earn the World Number one ranking.
US Serena Williams celebrate upon defeating Russia's Ekaterina Makarova during second round of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Williams defeated Makarova 6-3, 6-2 to earn the World Number one ranking.
Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her second round match against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 6, 2009. Serena went on to win the match, and become again the number-one-ranked player in the world.
Serena Williams of the US reacts after beating Ekaterina Makarova of Russia during the second round match at the China Open 2009 in Beijing on October 6, 2009. Serena beat Makarova 6-3,6-2.credit photo: AP photosource: www.onthebaseline.com
Serena Williams will be back on top of the world rankings come Monday morning. The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced today that the reigning Australian Open and Wimbledon champion will recapture the top spot in women’s tennis. Dinara Safina’s second round exit at the China Open gave Serena an opportunity to recapture the World No.1 ranking, which she secured by defeating Ekaterina Makarova in the second round. It will mark the fourth time in Serena’s career that she will be World No.1 and 73rd week overall, having held the top ranking for 57 weeks from July 8, 2002 to August 10, 2003; 4 weeks from September 8, 2008 to October 6, 2008; and 11 weeks from February 2 to April 19, 2009. “2009 has been a very good season for me during which I enjoyed some of the best wins of my career,” said Serena Williams. “Attaining the World No.1 ranking makes me want to work even harder and is ultimately the icing on the cake.” “Serena has achieved great results this year, impressing everyone with her gritty performances, especially at the Grand Slams. Regaining World No.1 ranking has been a goal of Serena’s and she’s worked very hard all year. I congratulate her on achieving this feat for the fourth time in her career,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.The 28-year-old American has had a stellar 2009 season, winning two Grand Slam singles titles (Australian Open and Wimbledon) and posting solid results at the other two Slams, falling to eventual champions at both (to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals of Roland Garros and to Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the US Open). 
US Serena Williams signs autographs to spectators after a match against Russia's Ekaterina Makarova in the second round of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Williams defeated Makarova 6-3, 6-2 to earn the World Number one ranking.
US Serena Williams celebrate upon defeating Russia's Ekaterina Makarova during second round of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009. Williams defeated Makarova 6-3, 6-2 to earn the World Number one ranking.
Serena Williams of the U.S. celebrates winning her second round match against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 6, 2009. Serena went on to win the match, and become again the number-one-ranked player in the world.
Serena Williams of the US reacts after beating Ekaterina Makarova of Russia during the second round match at the China Open 2009 in Beijing on October 6, 2009. Serena beat Makarova 6-3,6-2.credit photo: AP photosource: www.onthebaseline.com