First time ever: 10 nations in WTA Top 10 rankings

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Wilson Blade 9

For the first time in history, all Top 10 players in the WTA singles rankings are from different countries. As for continents, four of them are represented, with Europe being dominant, and Australia, Asia and North America all having one representative (I counted Russia as a European country). We are having Denmark, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Australia, United States of America, China, Serbia, Belarus, and Poland.

These post-Australian Open 2011 rankings are significantly different from the ones preceding the tournament. Only three Top 10 players haven’t changed their positions: Wozniacki is still No.1, Jelena Jankovic stayed at No.8 and Victoria Azarenka at No.9.

Serena Williams, who missed the Grand Slam, fell from No.4 to No. 12. Li Na’s Australian Open runner-up position led her to a new career-high of No.7, while champion Kim Clijsters returned to No.2 for the first time since August 2006. Francesca Schiavone reached her all-time best of No.4, which is also the highest ranking ever for an Italian women’s tennis player. Agnieszka Radwanska returned to the elite 10.

Names of the recently retired players, Justine Henin, Elena Dementieva and Tathiana Garbin, are not listed any more. (photo: © Neal Trousdale)

12 COMMENTS

  1. Interesting that this a first time! Just shows the diversity in tennis today!

    Thought it might also be interesting to readers Dinara Safina has slipped to 117!

  2. Yeah,it’s nice to have 10 different nations in top 10, but this is also one of the weakest top 10 ever,in my opinion. If you compare top 10 and top 20 players (11-20) there’s no difference in terms of players’ quality .
    BTW Marija have you seen on Twitter, Williams’ mother Oracene said something like Kim Clijsters having “Medusah eyes”.I know these words are bad and nasty but I couldn’t help but laugh hard!You should read the whole tweet.

  3. Wow, that’s unique! I don’t think the current top ten is weak, for the most part there are very consistent player so there’s something to look forward to in the upcoming weeks.
    I don’t find Safina’s downfall surprising at all. After all the criticism she got (for what was in fact a great achievement in her career) she probably lost her mental strenght and the physical issues are just a consequence of that.
    I think this was the last peak of her career,sadly. I doubt she would be able of coming back strong as Ana Ivanovic did.

  4. I think it’s really a beautiful thing, wich gives tennis a more universal character, it’s strange when you consider that at the end of 2008 there were 5 Russian in the top ten. Personally I don’t think that the level is lower, rather I’m glad that they are players with different styles of play.

  5. Please don’t forget that Dinara was seriously injured and didn’t play couple of months or she played not fully recovered. It will take time but I still believe in her come back. She is hard working girl.

  6. Please don’t forget that Dinara was seriously injured and didn’t play couple of months or she played not fully recovered. It will take time but I still believe in her comeback. She is hard working girl.

  7. Dinara is too young to be written off. Especially not that we have so many proofs of players reaching their prime at later stages of their careers.

  8. this is amazing, usually there is one or two russians or americans, heck even a another belgium or a serb. As far as Dinara is concerned I ever really liked her, but things can change, she can certainly get her focus back and get back in the top 50, but top 10 is a bit of a impossible.

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