There are no fewer that nine different nationalities represented in the WTA’s 2011 season-ending rankings, a record since such rankings began in 1975. It is a far cry from the three year period of 1981-3 when the United States dominated the rankings and had no fewer than six players ranked in the year-ending top 10. Americans actually held the top four places in every one of those years.
Now, for only the second time (the first was in 2006), there are no Americans at all in the year-end top 10. The nations represented in 2011 are Denmark, Czech Republic, Belarus, Russia (2), China, Australia, Poland, France and Germany. This is also only the third time that players from five different countries occupy the top five positions. That previously occurred in 1991 and 1992.
“DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE”