Top 5 / Top 10 1 // 15 Dec 2018, 16:57 IST SHARE The WTA rankings - a computerized rolling 52-week ranking of women professional tennis players was introduced for the first time on November 3rd, 1975. Since 1975 to 2018, 25 different women belonging to 14 different nations have been ranked World Number 1. Of the 25, 13 different women have gone on to finish the year as World Number 1. Only 3 women namely - Karolina Pliskova, Dinara Safina and Jelena Jankovic have been ranked World Number 1 but failed to win a Grand Slam title. Steffi Graf of Germany has finished as the Year End World Number 1 on 8 different occasions - an all-time record.In the women's game, maximum points are up for grabs in the Grand Slams followed by the WTA Finals and the 4 Premier Mandatory WTA events at Indian Wells, Key Biscayne, Madrid and Beijing. Then comes the WTA Premier 5 tournaments in Doha, Rome, Cincinnati, Toronto/ Montreal and Wuhan. The two are analogous to the … [Read more...] about Women’s Tennis: 5 players who spent the most consecutive weeks as WTA World Number 1
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5 ATP players who have spent the most consecutive weeks as World No. 1
Top 5 / Top 10 19 // 15 Dec 2018, 15:36 IST SHARE It was on 23 August 1973 that the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) published the first computerized system of ranking all the singles players in the world. The rankings for doubles, meanwhile, were first released on 1 March 1976.Ilie Nastase of Romania was the first ATP singles World No. 1, whereas Bob Hewitt of South Africa was the first doubles World No. 1. Prior to 1973, there was no standardized ranking system in place, and players were ranked subjectively by different tennis magazines, journalists and experts.26 singles players have been ranked World No. 1 in the 35 years since inception of the rankings, with Chilean Marcelo Rios the only player to ascend to the top despite not having won a Grand Slam tournament.Of the 26 players who have been ranked World No. 1, 17 of them have gone on to finish the year as the top-ranked player. The current World No. 1 is 14-time Grand Slam champion … [Read more...] about 5 ATP players who have spent the most consecutive weeks as World No. 1
4 best US Open women’s finals in the Open Era
Top 5 / Top 10 6 // 15 Dec 2018, 13:58 IST SHARE The US Open has a special place in history, especially for women's tennis. It was here that the legendary Billie Jean King spearheaded a campaign for gender rights, demanding equal pay for women who competed at the Open.Her boycott threat in 1973 prompted the authorities to make the US Open the first among the Grand Slams to award equal prize money to men and women. It would take almost three decades for the other Grand Slam tournaments to follow suit.The US Open is also the only Grand Slam to allow 16 women's qualifiers to enter the main draw instead of the norm of 12 which is followed by other Grand Slams. What makes the most watched Grand Slam tournament even more unique is that it offers the highest prize money among all the Majora.Since 1887, athletes from 17 different nations have won the US Open, and American duo Chris Evert and Serena Williams lead the pack with 6 titles each in the Open Era. … [Read more...] about 4 best US Open women’s finals in the Open Era
Del Potro back on court following knee injury
News 7 // 15 Dec 2018, 03:10 IST SHARE Juan Martin del Potro is back on court just two months after suffering a fracture to the patella of his right knee.The luckless Argentine missed the ATP Finals in London last month as a result of a fall during his third-round match against Borna Coric at the Shanghai Masters.Del Potro on Friday offered a positive update on his recovery ahead of the new season.The 2009 US Open champion posted a video of himself saying: "I wanted to tell you that I'm already playing tennis two months after the fracture in the knee, I'm doing it very slowly but I'm already moving here on the court which is where I like to be. "I wanted to tell you this news and thank you for the support you always give me. I send you a big hug."Del Potro finished last season fifth in the rankings after winning two ATP World Tour titles and was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the US Open final. Fetching more content... Fetching … [Read more...] about Del Potro back on court following knee injury
The Tennis Podcast: 2018 awards episode
Presenters David Law (BBC 5 Live, BT Sport) and Catherine Whitaker (Amazon Prime, Eurosport) have interrupted the off-season to look back on 2018 and hand out the annual Tennis Podcast awards. Recorded in front of a live audience, including Simon Briggs and Charlie Eccleshare of Telegraph Sport, Law and Whitaker debate 15 award categories in total. Can anyone other than Novak Djokovic stake a legitimate claim for player of the year? What was the best match of 2018? Did Aryna Sabalenka or Stefanos Tsitsipas have the more impressive breakthrough? Which coach had the most positive impact on their player? And what was the biggest disappointment of the season? Law and Whitaker are joined via video link by Mary Carillo. The legendary broadcaster is on hand to give her view on each category and to have the final say on any disagreements. The Tennis Podcast is produced weekly in association with Telegraph Sport, and daily at the Grand Slam tournaments. How to listen to The … [Read more...] about The Tennis Podcast: 2018 awards episode