SERENA WILLIAMS SECURES WTA YEAR-END WORLD NO.1 RANKING, PRESENTED BY DUBAI DUTY FREE

Written by: Staff on 27th September 2013

SERENA WILLIAMS SECURES WTA YEAR-END WORLD NO.1 RANKING, PRESENTED BY DUBAI DUTY FREE

epa03858499 Serena Williams of the US hits a return to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during the women's final on the fourteenth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 08 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – Following a 2013 season highlighted by winning nine titles, including two Grand Slams, Serena Williams has secured the Women’s Tennis Association’s Year-End No.1, presented by Dubai Duty Free, for the third time in her illustrious career, having also achieved the honor in 2002 and 2009.

Williams has held the WTA World No.1 ranking on six occasions during her a career, most recently since February 17, 2013, which saw her become the oldest player to hold the No.1 position since computer rankings were introduced in 1975. On Monday, September 30, she will have held the top ranking for a total of 156 non-consecutive weeks throughout her career.

“Serena has proven time and time again throughout her career that she is an incredible champion, both on and off the court,” said Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. “This season she continues to rewrite the record books, proving that she is one of the sport’s greatest athletes of all-time.”

“We are delighted to present Serena with the Year-End No. 1 trophy which signifies the terrific season that she has had in 2013. She is a great champion and we look forward to welcoming her back to Dubai in 2014,” said Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications of Dubai Duty Free and Tournament Director for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Williams’ stellar 2013 season has seen her collect a career-best nine singles titles: Brisbane International, Sony Open Tennis (her sixth title at Miami), Family Circle Cup (Charleston), Mutua Madrid Open, Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome), Collector Swedish Open (Bastad), Rogers Cup (Toronto), Roland Garros and US Open (her 16th and 17th Grand Slam singles crowns respectively). With 55 career titles, Williams is now tied for seventh with Lindsay Davenport and Virginia Wade on the all-time list of most titles won.

Her $3.6million prize money payout from the US Open is the largest single prize money purse in tennis history, making her the first woman to surpass $9million in a single season, and pushing her career earnings past $50million. Her 67-4 win-loss record for the season included a career-best 34-match win streak. During Wimbledon, she achieved her 600th win at all levels, a feat accomplished by just 14 other players in WTA history.

Williams turned professional at the age of 14 in November 1995 and played her first tournament at Quebec City, Canada. During her 18 year career, she has won every Grand Slam singles and doubles title at least once, in addition to four Olympic gold medals.

The American becomes the seventh player to finish the season as the WTA’s year-end No.1 three or more times during her career, joining Steffi Graf (8), Martina Navratilova (7), Chris Evert (5), Lindsay Davenport (4), Justine Henin (3) and Martina Hingis (3).

Williams will be presented with her year-end No.1 trophy during an on-court ceremony at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Istanbul by a representative of Dubai Duty Free.

Topics: 10sballs, Chris Evert, Grand Slam, Lindsay Davenport, Martina Hingis, Serena Williams, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Wta