Serena closes in on recapturing the No. 1 ranking
Source: Agencies |
February 16, 2013, Saturday
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SERENA Williams is one win away from becoming the oldest top-ranked women's player after sweeping aside Urszula Radwanska 6-0, 6-3 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open in Doha.
If the 31-year-old Williams reaches the semifinals by beating seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova she will return to No. 1 for the first time in 2 ? years. Chris Evert held the top ranking in 1985 while just shy of her 31st birthday.
"It's awesome," Williams said. "Since I didn't do the youngest, I figure I'll do the oldest."
If Williams doesn't make the last four, then Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka can keep top spot by reaching the final. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova can pass both players if she wins the tournament and Williams and Azarenka lose their next matches.
Williams was joined in the last eight by Azarenka, former No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Sharapova plus 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur and Agnieszka Radwanska.
In Rotterdam, Netherlands, defending champion Roger Federer gave up just one break point as he swept aside Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. Federer faces Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the quarterfinals.
Juan Martin del Potro beat Ernests Gulbis 7-6 (5), 6-3 to reach his first quarterfinal of the year.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal beat Joao Souza 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Brazil Open, his second event since returning from a left knee injury.
If the 31-year-old Williams reaches the semifinals by beating seventh-seeded Petra Kvitova she will return to No. 1 for the first time in 2 ? years. Chris Evert held the top ranking in 1985 while just shy of her 31st birthday.
"It's awesome," Williams said. "Since I didn't do the youngest, I figure I'll do the oldest."
If Williams doesn't make the last four, then Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka can keep top spot by reaching the final. Third-ranked Maria Sharapova can pass both players if she wins the tournament and Williams and Azarenka lose their next matches.
Williams was joined in the last eight by Azarenka, former No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Sharapova plus 2011 US Open champion Samantha Stosur and Agnieszka Radwanska.
In Rotterdam, Netherlands, defending champion Roger Federer gave up just one break point as he swept aside Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament. Federer faces Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the quarterfinals.
Juan Martin del Potro beat Ernests Gulbis 7-6 (5), 6-3 to reach his first quarterfinal of the year.
Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal beat Joao Souza 6-3, 6-4 on Thursday to reach the quarterfinals of the Brazil Open, his second event since returning from a left knee injury.
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