Serena clinches year-end world No.1 spot
Russia’s Dinara Safina hobbled out of the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar on Thursday, surrendering the year-end world No. 1 ranking to Serena Williams in the process.
Williams celebrated the landmark by beating sister Venus 5-7, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), sending the defending champion to a second defeat and virtually certain of exiting the $4.55 million tournament.
The 23-year-old Safina quit her opening match against Jelena Jankovic with a lower back injury with the score at 1-1 in the first set and after only 13 minutes on court.
“My body just gave up, and I couldn’t handle the pain anymore,” said Safina, who had gone back to the top of the rankings Monday, but only with a 155-point lead on Williams.
The American won her opener in this event Tuesday against Svetlana Kuznetsova, and then added more ranking points by defeating Venus.
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