Wozniacki laser focus on tennis lands number one ranking (Feature)

Oct 7, 2010, 15:01 GMT

Beijing - New world number one Caroline Wozniacki has learned to ignore the criticism and just play her game as she takes over the WTA number one ranking from Serena Williams, whose apparent disinterest has opened the door to the 20-year-old ingenue to blow through.

Wozniacki sealed her move to the top of the table with Thursday's third-round victory over Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2 at the China Open.

The former Wimbledon junior champion becomes the 20th to head the table since the rankings were established in 1975. Wozniacki stood 64th in 2007 a year before winning the first of her 11 career singles trophys in Stockholm.

She and the fans celebrated on court after the match which sealed her success: 'Being number one has always been a dream for me,' said the winner, presented her new number in the form of a stylised floral tribute.

Like former number ones Jelena Jankovic and Russia's Dinara Safina before her, Wozniacki achieved her honour before winning a first Grand Slam title.

But despite that technicality, it's been months of knocking on the door before the Dane finally achieved the career breakthrough, which will only provide inspiration to follow in the footsteps of her tennis idols, who range from current men's greats Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to former women's heroes Steffi Graf and Martina Hingis.

'Now, I like to watch Roger and Rafa play,' said the winner of six titles this year. 'They're amazing competitors.

'Just to watch them play on such a high level, it's really something that can bring the best out of you as well.'

The Monte Carlo-based daughter of a former Polish footballer and daughter of a Polish national volleyball-playing mother has deep sporting roots, with a brother who is also a soccer player. She is also intellectually curious, recently voicing the hope of perhaps attending Yale University in the eastern US if possible.

Wozniacki and others from her generation of Europeans and eastern Europeans have copped criticism from traditionalists, who say that only the void left by the apparent indifference to the sport from Serena and Venus Williams has left space empty for the likes of Wozniacki, whose full-on playing schedule for 2010 surely equals two years of hit-or-miss from Serena,

The 29-year-old Williams gave up her crown without a fight, winning Wimbledon - only her sixth event of the season - but then dropping from tennis sight as reports of a cut foot which required surgery surfaced. The American's handlers insisted she was hurt but is planning a return - sometime.

In the interim, Wozniacki has quietly gone about her business on court and will reap the rewards when the new rankings emerge on Monday.

'To be honest, I've been working hard,' she said in the run-up to taking the top spot. 'I had a good break after Wimbledon where I could really practise and get in good shape.

'Since then, I've just been playing really well. I had a good streak in the US, I like playing matches, I like the competition.

'I don't really think about the ranking. I think about the match I'm playing at the moment.'

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