Is the No.1 Status on WTA Tour Really Worth the Hype?

Victoria Azarenka became No.1 after winning the Australian Open crown. Any of the semifinalists could have become the top-ranked player if they had managed to do the feat that Azarenka managed. 

Alex on B/R had an interesting comment on my earlier post about Azarenka's reign as the No.1. I looked up the number of active players who have been ranked No.1.

Surprisingly, the number of women in this short list is quite high—eight in fact. This probably has never happened earlier with so many top-ranked women. Is the No.1 position then worth the hype? Has it become just another number that any player can aim to achieve? 

Though the men's tour is much more competitive—any player in the Top 100 has the capability to beat the top players—the No.1 ranking has changed hands between only three players in the last eight years (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic).

Let us look at the eight women who have been No.1 already.

Venus Williams: The Early Mover in Grand Slams

Venus Williams has been ranked No. 1 in singles on three separate occasions. She became the world No. 1 for the first time as early as 2002. Looking at her achievements and wins on the Grand Slam circuit, it is a surprise that she has been No.1 for a grand total of 11 weeks only!

On her good days, Venus can be a handful for the rest of the tour. But, a spate of injuries (including the recent Sjögren's syndrome) has derailed her many a time. 

Venus is truly a great champion. One only wishes and prays that she recovers soon and powers her way back into contention.

Serena Williams: Only Holder of the Serena Slam

Serena Williams has been ranked as world No. 1 in singles on five separate occasions. She became the No. 1 for the first time in 2002 and mostly recently regained top status in 2009.

She is the most recent player, male or female, to have held all four Grand Slam singles titles simultaneously and only the fifth woman in history to do so. 

Of late, her focus and fitness seem to be hampering her run at the Grand Slams. Her tantrums against the line umpires have been making more headlines than her performances. 

Kim Clijsters: Last Year on the WTA Tour for the Mommy

Kim Clijsters has won four Grand Slam singles titles: three at the US Open, in 2005, 2009 and 2010 and one at the Australian Open in 2011.

Kim, in fact, was the first player to be ranked No.1 without having won a Grand Slam tournament. She set the record straight with her performances later in her career, especially coming back after the birth of her daughter.

Playing her last year on the tour, she has been stringing together remarkable performances on the circuit. But, when she appears for a tournament is anyone's guess. This year is mostly about enjoying the tennis and saying goodbye to her fans around the world.

Maria Sharapova: The Glamour Queen Is Keen to Show Her Top Game Once Again

Sharapova has won three Grand Slam singles titles—the 2004 Wimbledon, 2006 US Open and 2008 Australian Open.

The WTA has ranked Sharapova world No. 1 in singles on four separate occasions. She became the No. 1 for the first time in 2005 and last regained this ranking in 2008. 

Doing well in the tournaments of late, Maria has stumbled in the finals very badly. After breezing through the tournaments, one wonders why Sharapova seems to get into a mental block in the Grand Slams. 

Ana Ivanovic: A Single-Slam Wonder on WTA

Ana Ivanovic beat Dinara Safina to win the 2008 French Open and earned a No.1 ranking that year thanks to her consistent performance. But, she has not been able to maintain top form since.

Ana's ascension could be attributed to the inconsistency that has plagued the WTA circuit from then on.

Ana has finished the last three years ranked outside the top 15, a sign that she has not been consistently making the latter rounds in tournaments. 

Jelena Jankovic: Will She Ever Win a Grand Slam ?

Jankovic replaced Ivanovic as the world No. 1 in 2008.

Again, inconsistent play caused several changes in the No. 1 spot in 2008, making the year a notable one in WTA history.

Jelena was only the third woman (the others being Amelie Mauresmo and Kim Clijsters) to become world No. 1 without first winning a Grand Slam title.

Jelena had year-end rankings of eighth, eighth and 14th over the last three years—a sign of her struggling form in recent times.

Caroline Wozniacki: Needs a Grand Slam to Endorse Her No.1 Status

Caroline is a former world No. 1 on the WTA Tour. Caroline held this position for 67 weeks (ninth in the list of champions who have held No.1).

Caroline has been consistent on the circuit, winning six tournaments in 2010 and 2011. 

But Grand Slam tournaments have been a disappointment. Her one final and three semifinal appearances do not give a proper endorsement to her status as No.1. 

If she can replicate her performances in Premier WTA tournaments in the Grand Slams, no question that Caroline can come back to the pinnacle.

Victoria Azarenka: The Latest Entrant to the No.1 WTA Club

Victoria Azarenka won the 2012 Australian Open singles title, becoming the first Belarusian player to win a Grand Slam in singles.

With this win, she became the first player ever to go from No. 3 to No. 1 by skipping No. 2. She has also won two mixed doubles Grand Slam titles on the tour.

Victoria seems to be sure of the No.1 ranking till the Roland Garros as of now. Will her hunger stay for the rest of the year?