Ana, Jelena, and Serena Lead Race for No. 1 Ranking at US Open
Posted by Aaress Lawless on Aug 28, 2008 | Print |
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour World No. 1 ranking is once again up for grabs at a major tournament.
A record six women, including Serena Williams, headed to the US Open with an opportunity to leave as the best player in the world.
For Williams, it has been five long years since her last stint in the top spot. Kim Clijsters replaced her as No. 1 on August 11, 2003 and since then, Serena has longed to once again see her name at the top of the computer rankings.
The point differential among the top six seeded players was so close that each of them had a chance to leave Flushing Meadows as the heir apparent to the top spot.
At the beginning of this week, six players had a chance at becoming No.1 after the US Open – Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Serena Williams, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva.
Svetlana Kuznetsova no longer has a chance at becoming No.1 because Ivanovic won her first-round match. Kuznetsova is defending 700 points from last year’s US Open’s runner-up finish.
A title at Flushing Meadows would automatically give Ivanovic, Jankovic, or Williams the No. 1 ranking.
If Ivanovic reaches the finals and Jankovic does not advance past the semifinals, Ivanovic will remain No.1, regardless of the outcome of the finals.
Current No. 2 Jelena Jankovic and No. 3 Serena Williams must reach at least the semifinals to have a chance at becoming No.1.
Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva would have a chance at becoming No.1 only if they reach the finals. Dementieva is defending the least amount of points (90 = R16).
Should Safina win the singles title, she would become No.1 if Jankovic does not advance past the semifinals and Ivanovic does not advance past the quarterfinals. (Safina is in the same half of the draw as Ivanovic and Serena Williams.)
If Dementieva wins the singles title and Ivanovic does not advance past the semifinals, she would become No. 1. (Dementieva is in the same half of the draw as Jankovic.)
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