(February 15, 2013) Serena Williams returned to No. 1 ranking by virtue of her 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 quarterfinal win over Petra Kvitova in Doha at the Qatar Open. The win makes Williams the oldest WTA No. 1 ever at 31 years four months old when the rankings come out on Monday. Chris Evert held that record previously back in 1985, short of her 31st birthday. Williams was last at world No. 1 in October 2010. She first became No. 1 at 20 years old on July 8, 2002.
Williams had to come back from 1-4 down in the third set. “I just hung in there and she was playing so good,” said Williams on court after the win. “Every time I looked around she was hitting a winner and I thought if I could just stay in there. I could hear the crowd cheering for me, and I don’t get that all the time, so that was nice.”
“I’ve been through so much and I just never thought I’d be here,” said a teary-eyed Williams. “I’m so sensitive nowadays.”
“I’m always crying, but I never thought I would be here again. I’ve been through so much and I just never thought I’d be here, so thank you Jehovah for giving me another chance.”
“This is another amazing accomplishment for a superstar champion who has played an integral role, over the past 15 years, in solidifying tennis as the global leader in women’s sports,” said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman & CEO through a news release. “As we celebrate 40 years of the WTA this season, it seems fitting to have Serena, one of the sport’s all-time greats and global icons, return to the World No.1 ranking.”
Williams will face Maria Sharapova in the semifinals on Saturday after the Russian defeated Australian Sam Stosur 6-2 6-4. Current No. 1 Victoria Azarenka also advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Sara Errani.
Williams sent out a message to her twitter followers after the match:
Thanks everyone for all the support. Back to number one. #1 and it feels so good. Serena #1
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) February 15, 2013
SERENA’S WEEKS AT NO.1:
July 8, 2002 – August 10, 2003 57 weeks
September 8, 2008 – October 5, 2008 4 weeks
February 2, 2009 – April 19, 2009 11 weeks
October 12, 2009 – October 25, 2009 2 weeks
November 2, 2009 – October 10, 2010 49 weeks
February 18, 2013 – current No.1 1 week
OLDEST PLAYERS TO HOLD WORLD NO.1 SINCE 1975:
Serena Williams 31 years, 4 months, 24 days
Chris Evert 30 years, 11 months, 3 days (Nov 24, 1985)
Martina Navratilova 30 years, 9 months, 29 days (Aug 16, 1987)
Lindsay Davenport 29 years, 7 months, 8 days (Jan 29, 2006)
Serena Williams 29 years, 0 months, 14 days (Oct 10, 2010)
Steffi Graf 27 years, 9 months, 16 days (Mar 30, 1997)
QATAR TOTAL OPEN
Doha, Qatar
February 11-17, 2013
$2,369,000/Premier
Hard/Outdoors
Results - Friday, February 15, 2013
Singles – Quarterfinals
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (6) Sara Errani (ITA) 62 62
(2) Serena Williams (USA) d. (7) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 36 63 75
(3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (8) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 62 64
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (10) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 62 75
Doubles – Quarterfinals
(1) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Hantuchova/Medina Garrigues (SVK/ESP) 63 46 1311 (Match TB)
(2) Petrova/Srebotnik (RUS/SLO) d. (7) Hlavackova/Safarova (CZE/CZE) 61 61
(3) Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA) d. Raymond/Stosur (USA/AUS) 62 64
(6) Groenefeld/Peschke (GER/CZE) d. (4) Llagostera Vives/Zheng (ESP/CHN) 63 60
Order Of Play – Saturday, February 16, 2013
Centre Court (from 15.30hrs)
1. Errani/Vinci vs. Groenefeld/Peschke
2. Victoria Azarenka vs. Agnieszka Radwanska (NB 18.00hrs)
3. Maria Sharapova vs. Serena Williams
Court 1 (from 16.30hrs
1. Kops-Jones/Spears vs. Petrova/Srebotnik
