Dinara Safina: The New No. 1?

2009 is wide open for the women of the WTA. The question of the day and the question every day is who will emerge as the No. 1 player when the sun sets on another tennis season? 

Serena Williams No. 1

Going into Indian Wells, Serena is ranked No. 1. There is no doubt that on any given day, Serena Williams has the best all-around game of any player, except her sister Venus, on grass.

But Serena is not playing at Indian Wells, and, in that sense, she is ceding her top spot to another player.

Serena and Venus have an adverse history with the sponsors of the Indian Wells tournament. In 2001, Serena was booed and subjected to racial taunts while participating in the WTA-sponsored event. 

The sisters have never appeared at the tournament since then. Even threats of sanctions and fines did not induce them to play this event in 2009.

The chances that Serena will retain her No. 1 crown after the Indian Wells tournament concludes are slim and none.

Dinara Safina No. 2

The chances that Safina will emerge as the No. 1 player after Indian Wells are superb. 2008 was a banner year for Marat’s baby sister. 

She emerged as a world-class tennis player, outshining many who received better press and who may have exhibited more promise early on. 

Safina was the last player to defeat Justine Henin. In Berlin, she stunned Henin and also upended Serena Williams on her way to the championship. In 2008, she also finished as the runner up at Roland Garros, won a silver medal at the summer Olympics, and won the Rogers Cup. 

Winning the title in Indian Wells seems a real possibility and this would move her past Serena to the No. 1 ranking. Heading into the clay season is also a positive for Dinara, as it remains one her best surfaces.

Jelena Jankovic No. 3

Jankovic has already lost at Indian Wells, upset by 17-year-old Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the second round. 

She arrived at Indian Wells ranked No. 3 in the world, hoping to rebuild her game after a disappointing showing at the Australian Open.

“I'm struggling in this moment to find my game overall and find the confidence on the court," she said. "...My whole concept of the game; it's kind of off, especially during the points. I don't feel some of my shots that were my weapons before.''

Jankovic complains that although her offseason training made her much stronger, she also feels much heavier in her movements and not as agile on the court. Her speed and reaction time are disappointing to Jelena. 

Elena Dementieva No. 4

Dementieva also lost in the second round at Indian Wells to Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska, 7-6, 2-6, 6-1. Dementieva complained of being tired and being unable to sustain her level of play in this second round contest. 

This early exit will probably not aide her in sustaining her world ranking; but, it is too early to tell what, if any, affect this loss will have on the No. 4 seed.

Venus Williams No. 5

Venus Williams has been having great year so far. In fact, for Venus, she has been playing quite a bit and seems re-energized for 2009. She, however, like her sister, is boycotting the Indian Wells tournament. 

After winning in Dubai and then following that with a win in Acapulco, Mexico, Venus rose to her No. 5 ranking. 

She has won 40 professional singles titles and that is more than any other active player. She will turn age 29 in June but still shows every sign of retaining her status and her game.

Others in waiting

In addition to the top five top ranked players there are others who must be considered in the conversation as the potential No. 1. 

The current No. 6 player is Vera Zvonareva, who lost to Dinara Safina in the semifinals of the 2009 Australian Open. She won the Pattaya Women’s Open in Thailand, where she defeated Sania Mirza in the final. We wonder if she has the right stuff to reach the lofty ranking as No. 1?

Then, of course, there is Ana Ivanovic, the current world No. 7 seed, who survived the second round at Indian Wells and is the defending champion there. 

Since her victory over Dinara Safina at the 2008 French Open, Ana has not found a return to the form that allowed her win that first major grand slam tournament. 

But she is hopeful that the good days are returning and that she has a real chance to repeat as champion and work her way back into the top five. Perhaps she feels she has the capability to reach that No. 1 ranking once again.

Also to be considered is Svetlana Kuznetsova, currently ranked No. 8, although she seems to be in a slump of late. 

Newcomer and currently on the rise is No. 9 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Nadia Petrova, who has been ranked as high as world No. 3, is currently ranked No. 10. 

Then, of course, we cannot overlook Maria Sharapova, who has fallen far out of the top 10 to No. 23 in the world.  Should she be able to return successfully, you cannot discount her ability to play brilliant tennis. 

It all depends on her serve. That weapon has always dictated the power and finesse of her game.

For all practical purposes, it looks like Dinara Safina will have the upper hand after this tournament. She appears destined to become No. 1 in the world. 

Regardless of what happens next in Miami, when the WTA heads to clay, Safina must be regarded as the favorite on that surface—unless Ivanovic can find her game and her nerve completely in the next few months. 

Safina has nowhere to go but up now that she has found her game, her confidence and an emotional maturity that keeps her grounded. She is ready to assume the mantle.