Tennis FOUR TO HAVE BOOKED THE HIGHEST SINCE THE WITHDRAWAL OF HENIN
Since the withdrawal of Justine Henin last May 14, the women's tennis has failed to consolidate a number one tennis player in the world. Up to four players have reached the top of the WTA ranking, and that more time was left was Ana Ivanovic, for nine consecutive weeks. However, the Serb has been alternating the number one with his compatriot Jelena Jankovic, Russian Maria Sharapova and American Serena Williams, currently number one after achieving victory in the U.S. Open, the last Grand Slam 'of the season.
This instability at the top of the ranking is striking, especially in the background of the Belgian Justine Henin, who took the decision to withdraw after its 61 consecutive weeks at the top and 117 throughout his career, becoming that the sixth player in a way that most weeks at number one has accumulated. But "fatigue and tiredness" led her to say goodbye to the tennis court days before fulfill 26 years. Given the widespread surprise, the Belgian voluntarily ending his successful career, adorned with seven Grand Slam titles (4 Roland Garros, 1 Australia Open and 2 U.S. Open) and 41 WTA titles in total.
An era without 'queen' The new era began with post-Henin Maria Sharapova as improvised 'queen'. However, he lasted only three weeks until the tournament in Roland Garros, where he fell eliminated in the fourth round. There he picked up the baton the Serbian Ana Ivanovic, winner in the clay of Paris, which was awarded its first 'Grand Slam' after losing the final of the Australia Open this year and the previous Roland Garros.
The Serb, 20, has not had much luck since then, as it fell into Wimbledon third round. In the third Grand Slam 'of the season suffered a lesion in his right hand, and since then has failed to fully recover. In fact, he had to give up the Olympics a few days before the start of the competition, when it was hosted in Beijing. Nor was the resurrection of Ivanovic at the U.S. Open, only came to the second round. However, in the era post-Henin has been the longest tennis player has achieved the top: 12 weeks in total.
The 12-week Ivanovic were not consecutive, because in the meantime is coló for seven days Jelena Jankovic, who this year was a semifinalist in Australia and finalist at Roland Garros and the U.S. Open, his best result in a 'Grand Slam'. On September 8 was the second chance to put on top of the WTA ranking, but Serena Williams was brought into his path in the final of the U.S. Open. The win that would reach number one, but little of Williams, the oldest of the Last four numbers one, do not let the opportunity pass to win at home and then placed in the top of the WTA, instead of who disappeared in August 2003, having exercised for 57 consecutive weeks.
Will Serena beginning with a new and long era as the last of Justine Henin? The Serbian Jankovic and Ivanovic, the 'Army' made up of Russian Dementieva, Safina, Sharapova and Kuznetsova, and her sister Venus will try to avoid the dominance of the small of Williams.