Victoria Azarenka Reclaims WTA World No.1 Ranking
Victoria Azarenka Reclaims WTA World No.1 Ranking
Victoria Azarenka will return to World No.1 on the Women’s Tennis Association’s singles rankings on Monday, July 9, 2012. The 22-year-old Belarusian advanced to the semifinal at Wimbledon and will return to No.1 for the first time since the week of June 4.
“Every day, I work with my team to become the best player I can possibly be. To be listed among the other players who also reached No.1 is an honor,” said Azarenka. “This year has already been the best of my career and I am looking forward to the second half of the season.”
“Victoria’s 2012 season has been spectacular, claiming her maiden Grand Slam title, becoming the first Belarusian to hold the World No.1 ranking, and compiling one of the best win streaks in WTA history,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman & CEO of the WTA. “Victoria’s determination and consistency distinguishes her as one of the elite athletes in our game, and has allowed her to return to the top of the rankings.”
After winning her first Grand Slam title at this year’s Australian Open, Azarenka held the No.1 ranking for 19 consecutive weeks until Sharapova triumphed at Roland Garros and topped the WTA Rankings on June 11. Entering Wimbledon, Azarenka was one of two players with a chance of moving ahead of Sharapova in the rankings. Azarenka secured the top spot by advancing to the semifinals at Wimbledon.
During the last year, Azarenka has reached eight singles finals, winning five titles. Her stellar start to the 2012 season began with a 26 match winning streak, the best start since 1997 when Martina Hingis won 37 straight. The streak yielded, Azarenka four singles titles – the Apia International Sydney, Australian Open, Qatar Total Open (Doha) and BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) – and saw her achieve the highest single-season title tally of her career within the first three months of the season.
This year Azarenka has surpassed 40 match victories for the fifth consecutive season, dating back to 2008. Her results include a WTA-leading 12 victories over Top 10 ranked opponents, including a 7-1 record against Top 5 opponents.
Ranked inside the Top 10 every week since October 4, 2010, Azarenka has already won 12 singles titles in her career, including winning at least two titles each year in four consecutive seasons.
WEEKS AT WORLD NO.1
| PLAYER | WEEKS AT No.1 | DATE REACHED No.1 |
| Steffi Graf (GER) | 377 | August 17, 1987 |
| Martina Navratilova (USA) | 332 | July 10, 1978 |
| Chris Evert (USA) | 260 | November 3, 1975 |
| Martina Hingis (SUI) | 209 | March 31, 1997 |
| Monica Seles (USA) | 178 | March 11, 1991 |
| Serena Williams (USA) | 123 | July 8, 2002 |
| Justine Henin (BEL) | 117 | October 20, 2003 |
| Lindsay Davenport (USA) | 98 | October 12, 1998 |
| Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) | 67 | October 11, 2010 |
| Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) | 39 | September 13, 2004 |
| Dinara Safina (RUS) | 26 | April 20, 2009 |
| Maria Sharapova (RUS) | 21 | August 22, 2005 |
| Tracy Austin (USA) | 21 | April 7, 1980 |
| Victoria Azarenka (BLR) | 20* | January 30, 2012 |
| Kim Clijsters (BEL) | 20 | August 11, 2003 |
| Jelena Jankovic (SRB) | 18 | August 11, 2008 |
| Jennifer Capriati (USA) | 17 | October 15, 2001 |
| Ana Ivanovic (SRB) | 12 | June 9, 2008 |
| Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario (ESP) | 12 | February 6, 1995 |
| Venus Williams (USA) | 11 | February 25, 2002 |
| Evonne Goolagong Cawley(AUS) | 2 | April 26, 1976 |
*including week of July 9, 2012
Topics: 10sballs.com, Belarussian tennis news, London Olympics, number one women singles, Sports, Victoria Azarenka
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