Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic will end the 2008 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour season as the number one player in the world.
The Sony Ericsson WTA Tour announced on Saturday that Jankovic will retain possession of the top spot regardless of the results at the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships.
Currently holding 4,555 points in the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Rankings, Jankovic holds a commanding lead over Dinara Safina (3,782) and Serena Williams (3716), clinching the season-ending top ranking with mathematic certainty.
The 23-year old secured the year-end No.1 ranking by winning 12-straight matches en route to three consecutive titles – the China Open in Beijing, the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. As a result, Jankovic increased her 2008 singles title count to four, having also won the Tier I 2008 Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
“It has been a truly amazing year for me,” Jankovic said. “Winning four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour titles, over 60 matches and to make it to two semifinals and a final in the Grand Slams of 2008 is a dream come true. I worked really hard this year and to finish No.1 is where I want to be and where I hope to stay.”
“Jelena has had an incredible 2008 season and earned the year-end No. 1 ranking,” said Larry Scott, CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. “Jelena’s entertaining all-court game and off-court charisma have attracted millions of fans around the globe, and helped make this season one of the most memorable in recent memory. The battle for the No. 1 ranking is sure to remain fiercely competitive in 2009, and no doubt Jelena will be among those players vying for the top spot again.”
Jankovic was one of five players to hold the World No.1 ranking this year along with Justine Henin (20 weeks), who retired on May 14, 2008 and immediately took her name off the rankings, Ana Ivanovic (12 weeks), Maria Sharapova (three weeks) and Serena Williams (four weeks).
I know year-end no. 1′s have ended with 6 titles (Davenport twice, Henin in ’06- I believe), but that’s, I think, the lowest titles a world no. 1 has won in a season.
Now, I know winning three titles in a row is very impressive, but I can’t help thinking that another Jankovic achievement (year-end no. 1) is tainted by the fact that she did not win a grand slam or more than four titles. Consistency is good. Titles, especially Slam titles, are better.
Only two Tier I’s and two Tier II’s should not a world number one make.
She rightfully deserves that position.
To be the Season-Ending No. 1 you had to have the best overall season.
The WTA these days is so much about players choosing when they want to play, peaking for a month or two, before collapsing into a mini slump. None of the slam winners this year proved that they could be a consistent force outside of their grandslam win.
If I had to say, Serena had the best high’s of the season. Except those high’s did not come often enough.
Although I dislike Serena, I thought she had the #1 clinched after the USO, before she lost in her first match after and decided to take a break for her ‘injury’ by surfing in Hawaii. Her commitment is questionable. I think that Serena, Jankovic, Ivanovic, and Sharapova can have a great high quality rivalry, with the latter three carrying on after Serena retires.
2009 is truly promising. Jankovic is playing better, Ivanovic is coming back, Sharapova will need some time but she’ll be back, Safina has everything to gain pre-clay season, and Serena will be forced to play more if she wants to maintain her ranking.
[...] Four other players held the top ranking during 2008: the retired Justine Henin (20 weeks), Ana Ivanovic (12), Maria Sharapova (three) and Serena Williams (four). (via On the Baseline) [...]
[...] that Jelena Jankovic will finish the year the number one female tennis player in the world. Jelena secured the year end number 1 spot by winning 12 straight matches and three consecutive titles – the China [...]
It’s not good news for a Number 1 to not have won a Slam, but Jelena plays a lot of tournaments for the tour so I’ll give it to her.
I’m sick of players getting injured and skipping tournaments. So I’ll all for winless-Slam world no. 1.
If you play a lot then you get points, Jelena did just that. Her results are great throughout the year so she deserves it!
Jelena is no. 1! It’s great. I like Jelena a lot. She’s cool, composed and very very determined so I’ll say she really deserve the top position. Hopefully she’ll win a slam this 2009 – and that would be the day.
Love you Jelena!
Erna
[...] holds the number one tennis player ranking in the world? Jelena Jankovic is the current No. 1 tennis player in the [...]
[...] Jelena Jankovic secured the season-ending number one ranking. [...]