TENNIS STAR AND FASHIONISTA AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST – BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS EARNS WTA WORLD NO.1 DOUBLES RANKING

Written by: Staff on 7th January 2017

TENNIS STAR AND FASHIONISTA AND OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST - BETHANIE MATTEK-SANDS EARNS WTA WORLD NO.1 DOUBLES RANKING |

Bethanie Mattek-Sands Earns WTA World No.1 Doubles Ranking

– Mattek-Sands reaches World No.1 after clinching 23rd career WTA doubles title at the Brisbane International

– The American will overtake partner Sania Mirza for the top ranking, ending the Indian’s streak of 91 consecutive weeks as World No.1

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that Bethanie Mattek-Sands has secured the WTA World No.1 doubles ranking by winning the doubles title at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp with partner Sania Mirza.

“Being No.1 is something that you dream of from the time you pick up a racquet,” said WTA World No.1 doubles player Bethanie Mattek-Sands. “You’re not given No.1 – you have to earn it and I feel really proud of myself for getting there.”

Your @BrisbaneTennis Doubles Champs – Photo by @wta via Instagram.

Mattek-Sands will reach the No.1 ranking for the first time in her career and overtake Mirza for the top spot when the rankings are updated on Monday, January 9, ending her partner’s streak of 91 consecutive weeks as World No.1. The last Americans to make their WTA World No.1 doubles ranking debut were Serena Williams and Venus Williams on June 7, 2010.

“Congratulations to Bethanie on this achievement,” said WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Since the inception of the doubles rankings in 1984, thousands of elite athletes have vied for this prestigious honor and Bethanie becomes just the 34th to reach the ranking of No 1. Her hard work and dedication during her career have led her to this point, and the WTA is honored to have her as our No.1.”

Last year at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, Mattek-Sands came within one win from securing the WTA Year-End World No.1 doubles ranking, falling to Makarova/Vesnina in the championship match (partnering with Safarova).

The new World No.1 holds 23 WTA doubles titles, including three Grand Slams at the 2015 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros and 2016 US Open (all w/Safarova). The American posted an 18-match winning streak on the doubles court in 2016 by clinching three consecutive titles at the US Open, Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and the China Open – Beijing, and advancing to the finals at BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore (all w/Safarova).