Caroline Wozniacki tops rankings without a Grand Slam title
Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki is set to become the new world number one when the new ATP rankings are released on Monday.
On Thursday, Wozniacki defeated Petra Kvitova to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open, earning her enough points to edge on top of Serena Williams in the rankings.
"This is a real big step for me. To be world number one has always been a dream for me," the 20-year-old said after the game.
Her ascendency to the top spot will occur amid controversy, though, as Wozniacki has yet to win a Grand Slam title.
The Dane will claim the top spot because she has been more active in international tennis than Serena Williams in recent months, as was the case with Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic, neither of whom had claimed a Grand Slam title before rising to the top
of the rankings in recent years.
Wozniacki, the 20th woman to top the rankings since they were introduced in 1975, said that she now has her eyes set on one of the finest prizes in tennis.
"A grand slam is definitely my next goal now that I've achieved becoming number one in the world—one of my big dreams," she said, mindful of the fact that an injury to Williams allowed her to clinch the top spot in the first place.
Has come close at the US Open
Wozniacki has 227 victories and 88 losses during her singles career, but the closest she has come to winning a Grand Slam was reaching the final of the 2009 US Open.
Along with Venus Williams, she is the only player to have progressed to at least the fourth round in the Grand Slams this season, but she didn't get further than to the semi-finals of the US Open.
"I'm still young, so I still have a lot of time ahead of me. I've had a fantastic season, and I think I can be proud of this. It's an incredible feeling for me right now to say that I'm number one in the world."
Serena Williams could make her return to the ATP tour at next weekend's tournament in Linz.
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