Wozniacki dethrones Serena as No. 1
Source: Agencies |
October 8, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CAROLINE Wozniacki became the first Danish player to be crowned world No. 1 when she beat Czech Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open in Beijing yesterday.
The 20-year-old dethroned American Serena Williams, who has not played since winning her 13th grand slam title at Wimbledon in July, when Kvitova smacked a service return into the net.
A jubilant Wozniacki held her arms aloft in celebration as Tina Turner's hit "Simply the Best" blasted out of the PA system in Beijing's Olympic tennis center.
"Being No. 1 has always been a dream for me," a beaming Wozniacki told the cheering crowd after being presented with a an oversized No. 1 made of flowers.
The Dane become the 20th woman to top the standings since their inception in 1975. However, Wozniacki is the third player in the last two years to have reached the pinnacle of tennis without winning one of the four grand slam titles.
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic and Russia's Dinara Safina are still without a major title despite topping the rankings in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Earlier, impatient rebel Li Na continued to fly the Chinese flag in Beijing after overthrowing Angelique Kerber 6-2, 6-0 yesterday.
The temperamental ninth seed was keen to stub out doubts over her commitment to become the first Chinese to win the showcase WTA event on home soil with a quick fire performance to secure a quarterfinal spot.
"I took my chances because I wanted to finish the match fast," said the world No. 12.
Li, whose relationship with her homeland blows hot and cold, told fans at the start of the competition not to expect winning ways because she did not want to risk injury.
But she deployed her formidable forehand with renewed purpose and claimed eight straight games in the first set to brush aside Germany's lackluster Kerber.
And the often-tetchy character heaped some rare praise on her cheering compatriots for helping her win - the same fans she once chided for being noisy and uncouth spectators.
"Chinese fans now know a lot about the etiquette of watching tennis matches. They are now able to enjoy watching," said Asia's leading player who told home fans to "shut up" during her 2008 Beijing Olympics semifinal loss.
Not for the first time, she ruled herself out of plans by the Chinese Tennis Association to make new pairings for the county's doubles teams.
"I hate playing doubles. You have to wait for the doubles after you've played your singles matches. I like playing singles matches which means I can go home quickly. And it saves a great deal of effort," she told Chinese journalists.
Officials have often slammed the rose-tattooed diva for being mentally weak.
The 28-year-old trailblazer faces Latvian qualifier Anastasija Sevastova who benefited from a walkover from No. 13 Russian seed Nadia Petrova who pulled out due to a right foot injury.
Also, Britain's Andy Murray struggled to find his rhythm before he dispatched Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-5. 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
World No. 24 Montanes refused to get intimidated by the second seed and fought toe-to-toe for much of the first set before finally surrendering the break.
The 20-year-old dethroned American Serena Williams, who has not played since winning her 13th grand slam title at Wimbledon in July, when Kvitova smacked a service return into the net.
A jubilant Wozniacki held her arms aloft in celebration as Tina Turner's hit "Simply the Best" blasted out of the PA system in Beijing's Olympic tennis center.
"Being No. 1 has always been a dream for me," a beaming Wozniacki told the cheering crowd after being presented with a an oversized No. 1 made of flowers.
The Dane become the 20th woman to top the standings since their inception in 1975. However, Wozniacki is the third player in the last two years to have reached the pinnacle of tennis without winning one of the four grand slam titles.
Serbia's Jelena Jankovic and Russia's Dinara Safina are still without a major title despite topping the rankings in 2008 and 2009 respectively.
Earlier, impatient rebel Li Na continued to fly the Chinese flag in Beijing after overthrowing Angelique Kerber 6-2, 6-0 yesterday.
The temperamental ninth seed was keen to stub out doubts over her commitment to become the first Chinese to win the showcase WTA event on home soil with a quick fire performance to secure a quarterfinal spot.
"I took my chances because I wanted to finish the match fast," said the world No. 12.
Li, whose relationship with her homeland blows hot and cold, told fans at the start of the competition not to expect winning ways because she did not want to risk injury.
But she deployed her formidable forehand with renewed purpose and claimed eight straight games in the first set to brush aside Germany's lackluster Kerber.
And the often-tetchy character heaped some rare praise on her cheering compatriots for helping her win - the same fans she once chided for being noisy and uncouth spectators.
"Chinese fans now know a lot about the etiquette of watching tennis matches. They are now able to enjoy watching," said Asia's leading player who told home fans to "shut up" during her 2008 Beijing Olympics semifinal loss.
Not for the first time, she ruled herself out of plans by the Chinese Tennis Association to make new pairings for the county's doubles teams.
"I hate playing doubles. You have to wait for the doubles after you've played your singles matches. I like playing singles matches which means I can go home quickly. And it saves a great deal of effort," she told Chinese journalists.
Officials have often slammed the rose-tattooed diva for being mentally weak.
The 28-year-old trailblazer faces Latvian qualifier Anastasija Sevastova who benefited from a walkover from No. 13 Russian seed Nadia Petrova who pulled out due to a right foot injury.
Also, Britain's Andy Murray struggled to find his rhythm before he dispatched Spaniard Albert Montanes 7-5. 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
World No. 24 Montanes refused to get intimidated by the second seed and fought toe-to-toe for much of the first set before finally surrendering the break.
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