first or second round losses are rendered meaningless.
The world number two and 2010 US Open champion Clijsters scored the Australian Open title in January and has posted a 19-4 record this year. However the Belgian is set to sit out the next month due to a shoulder injury.
The 2010 Wimbledon champion Serena Williams’ return date to the WTA Tour is uncertain due to several injuries, but her sister Venus Williams is scheduled to return next month in Brussels. However neither Williams sister has made it her priority to compete in a large enough number of WTA Tour tournaments to maximize a higher chance for a top ranking.
After recovering from a shoulder surgery in recent years, power hitter and former world number one Maria Sharapova of Russia is slowly climbing the rankings. But a reoccurring shoulder injury could minimize the Russian’s chances of ever reclaiming a WTA Tour rankings top spot.
After stopping the third seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4 earlier today in the semifinals of the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, South Carolina, Wozniacki advanced to Sunday’s championship final versus the unseeded Elena Vesnina of Russia.
Head to head, Wozniacki leads the 56th ranked Vesnina 4-1. The Dane took the duos’ last match up in the semifinals last year at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 1-6, 7-6(7-4), 6-4.
In the United States, ESPN2 is scheduled to televise the final live beginning at 10:00 am PST USA.
Wozniacki first topped the WTA Tour rankings in October of last year. However twice before in recent years had a female tennis player reached the top spot before winning a singles grand slam title: Jankovic in October of 2008 and Dinara Safina of Russia in April of 2009.
Based by a large part on her performance last year, Wozniacki is guaranteed to top the WTA Tour rankings through at least May 16th.
