OFFICIAL: Safina Is #1

[soyizgood]

Safina will officially become #1 on April 13. She becomes only the 2nd Russian Woman to earn #1. Her and Marat are the only brother and sister to be #1.

While I'm happy for this, I'm a bit concerned. She had numerous chances late last year and early this year to win it outright and failed every time (USO, AO, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami). This time she got two fortunate gifts: Serena's injury (cost her in Marbella) and Azarenka winning Miami (knocked 300 pts off Serena). Given her spotty play, I have to wonder if Safina is going to live up to the ranking. Her predecessors Ivanovic and Jankovic couldn't handle it and Serena seems to hold it for just a few weeks at a time.

Even with all of her faults, I'm sure she'll try her best to prove her critics she's a worthy #1. Congrats Safina!

 

[JW10S]

At the moment being the #1 ranked WTA player means very little.

 

[kungfusmkim]

LOL AHAHAHAHAHHA. Safina number 1. that is a huge joke. If Serena can back on her toes, she'll become number 1 if she doesn't Safina without even trying will become number 1

 

[gj011]

LOL AHAHAHAHAHHA. Safina number 1. that is a huge joke. If Serena can back on her toes, she'll become number 1 if she doesn't Safina without even trying will become number 1

Well if Serena didn't get destroyed by Azarenka and didn't lose to close to #100 ranked player today she would still be #1. So don't blame it on Safina.

Congratulations to Safina.

However despite what I said, I expect Safina to receive an equal amount of bashing as Jankovic did when she was #1. It would be only fair.

 

[kungfusmkim]

Uhh yeah. Lets say serena didn't play would she have lost? no. Would she have still been number 1? yes safina is just sitting there waiting for it to be handed to her.

 

[kungfusmkim]

And id rather have safina on the throne than jankovic.

 

[Bud]

Safina will officially become #1 on April 13. She becomes only the 2nd Russian Woman to earn #1. Her and Marat are the only brother and sister to be #1.

While I'm happy for this, I'm a bit concerned. She had numerous chances late last year and early this year to win it outright and failed every time (USO, AO, Dubai, Indian Wells, Miami). This time she got two fortunate gifts: Serena's injury (cost her in Marbella) and Azarenka winning Miami (knocked 300 pts off Serena). Given her spotty play, I have to wonder if Safina is going to live up to the ranking. Her predecessors Ivanovic and Jankovic couldn't handle it and Serena seems to hold it for just a few weeks at a time.

Even with all of her faults, I'm sure she'll try her best to prove her critics she's a worthy #1. Congrats Safina!

Yeah I just saw this news, too. Amazing... I never thought she'd rise to #1.

She should send Azarenka a thank you note!

 

[Lionheart392]

Well if Serena didn't get destroyed by Azarenka and didn't lose to close to #100 ranked player today she would still be #1. So don't blame it on Safina.

Congratulations to Safina.

However despite what I said, I expect Safina to receive an equal amount of bashing as Jankovic did when she was #1. It would be only fair.

Yes, when Jankovic first became #1 she really hadn't done much that year except winning Rome and reaching a couple of GS SFs, and I recall commentators saying it happened because the Olympics messed with the schedule a bit. At that point, I couldn't really argue with the criticism. But Jankovic's second run as #1 was much more justified, she had just reached her first slam final and then won 3 tournaments in 3 weeks, proving she was the best player at the time, but was still bashed just as much. Safina hasn't done much this year except reaching the AO final and who can forget how she handled that. So unless she manages to grab a few titles in the very near future, by that logic she deserves just as much if not more criticism than Jankovic.
Then again I don't believe Safina does deserve criticism (any issues should be directed at the other players who are all ranked lower, or the ranking system), but there does seem to be a consensus that Safina is more of a 'force' than Jankovic so I'd like to see if she receives less criticism.

 

[JankovicFan]

Let's see if she takes as much abuse as Jankovic, because I don't see that she is more worthy, again becoming #1 by default and a slam record of two finals rather than one, no titles. They all play so inconsistently that it's hard to maintain any interest in following the WTA. JJ hasn't even won a match this year.

No surprise with Serena, because she just falls out of training between slams.

 

[soyizgood]

Safina will be #1 for at least 2 weeks, a nice way to celebrate her birthday...haha

 

[Lionheart392]

Let's see if she takes as much abuse as Jankovic, because I don't see that she is more worthy, again becoming #1 by default and a slam record of two finals rather one, no titles. They all play so inconsistently that it's hard to maintain any interest in following the WTA. JJ hasn't even won a match this year.
No surprise with Serena, because she just falls out of training between slams.

Erm JJ has actually won 9 matches so far this year, including a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Francesca Schiavone yesterday.

 

[Bud]

Erm JJ has actually won 9 matches so far this year, including a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Francesca Schiavone yesterday.

He probably meant titles.

 

[Lionheart392]

He probably meant titles.

Ah yes quite possibly. Hopefully she'll change that this week if she keeps her form up.

 

[S H O W S T O P P E R !]

At the moment being the #1 ranked WTA player means very little.

Yeah, that's like being the number 7 junior in the men's tour.

 

[JankovicFan]

Erm JJ has actually won 9 matches so far this year, including a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing of Francesca Schiavone yesterday.

Thanks for the update of recent events, but list the other eight. What I recall is her going out in the first match of each tournament. But that's a technicality. My point was that JJ is not present and accounted for in 2009, not one at all in the running for top ranking. If she's out early at the AO and out early at Indian Wells and out early at Miami, what's left?

 

[Lionheart392]

Thanks for the update of recent events, but list the other eight. What I recall is her going out in the first match of each tournament. But that's a technicality. My point was that JJ is not present and accounted for in 2009, not one at all in the running for top ranking. If she's out early at the AO and out early at Indian Wells and out early at Miami, what's left?

Well she won 3 matches at the Australian Open, 3 in Paris, 1 in Dubai, and 2 in Fed Cup. So actually her victory yesterday makes 10. But yes it's true her form so far this year has been far from her best, but I'm hoping that yesterday's result could be a sign that she is returning to form.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

LOL AHAHAHAHAHHA. Safina number 1. that is a huge joke.

Well, it is a non-event to be sure, but not the bad joke that was Jankovic being #1.

 

[Lionheart392]

Well, it is a non-event to be sure, but not the bad joke that was Jankovic being #1.

Can you explain how Safina being #1 is worse than Jankovic being #1? The first time Jankovic was #1 I agree with you, but definitely not the 2nd.

 

[gj011]

Can you explain how Safina being #1 is worse than Jankovic being #1? The first time Jankovic was #1 I agree with you, but definitely not the 2nd.

He is a troll. Don't expect a reasonable explanation from him.

Of course Jankovic's #1 in October/November was much more clean and reasonable than Safina's now. She won 3 tournaments in a row (with all top players playing), and was clearly the best player in the world in that period, which can't be said for Safina now.

It is funny how trolls use this opportunity of Safina becoming #1 to bash Jankovic even more. When Jankovic was #1 the supposed reason for bashing was that she didn't win a slam, but now when some other player is #1 with the same "problem", Jankovic is again bashed by trolls, instead the player who is currently #1 without a slam title and not performing good at all ATM. Go figure.

 

[oy vey]

ugggh Safina

 

[soyizgood]

JJ and Safina are the 3rd and 4th women to earn #1 before winning a slam. The first two, Clijsters and Mauresmo, eventually won 1 and 2 majors, respectively. It took Clijsters and Mauresmo almost 2 years from their debut #1 to win a major. Looks like the window for these two to win a major would be now or 2010.

Safina is probably going to be criticized anyway (*cough*Serenatards,JJ fanboys,Masha groupies*cough*). And to some extent it is deserved. She kind of stumbled her way into the #1 spot. She doesn't have the luxury of defending her title at Berlin and she needs to get it together fast or else a limping, hobbling Serena regains #1.

Now that she has #1, that's one less thing lingering on her mind so hopefully she can get back to playing tennis with the focus she had from last year. With all the issues the top 10 players are dealing with, someone needs to step up and assert her authority.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Zvonareva threaten for the top 3 since she didn't do well at any slams last year, so has much points to gain. That and I think she'll win a few of the 6 finals she lost last year. With all the craziness these days, Azarenka in the top 5 wouldn't sound so out of the equation either.

 

[Federer's cat]

That's good. Unlike a lot of my other friends, I like her, she's really cool.

I'm sure she'll keep her spot the more experienced she gets, she's still pretty young for a top 10 player. Must feel good being crowned the best in the world like that, though.

 

[FEDERER>buttpicker.]

how the heck? wat happened to the great ivanovic?

 

[David_Is_Right]

ugggh Safina

Post whoring?

 

[TheTruth]

Congrats to Safina. What an honor regardless of whether she keeps it or not. I wouldn't mind telling my grandchildren that. Same for Jelena.

 

[egn]

I just wish a women could earn it by winning an event..Serena will most likely get it back after clay court season and this cycle will continue again. Hopefully Safina makes her breakthrough at the French.

 

[Mick]

this means that both the top ranked male and female tennis players are using babolat racquets. Wilson is losing the battle.

 

[egn]

this means that both the top ranked male and female tennis players are using babolat racquets. Wilson is losing the battle.

darn and i just bought a brand new wilson racquet a week ago.

 

[Bud]

ugggh Safina

Post whoring?

So, it's OK for you but not for him? If nothing else, don't be a self-righteous hypocrite.

There are no prizes for posting on TT :roll:

 

[Bud]

JJ and Safina are the 3rd and 4th women to earn #1 before winning a slam. The first two, Clijsters and Mauresmo, eventually won 1 and 2 majors, respectively. It took Clijsters and Mauresmo almost 2 years from their debut #1 to win a major. Looks like the window for these two to win a major would be now or 2010.

Safina is probably going to be criticized anyway (*cough*Serenatards,JJ fanboys,Masha groupies*cough*). And to some extent it is deserved. She kind of stumbled her way into the #1 spot. She doesn't have the luxury of defending her title at Berlin and she needs to get it together fast or else a limping, hobbling Serena regains #1.

Now that she has #1, that's one less thing lingering on her mind so hopefully she can get back to playing tennis with the focus she had from last year. With all the issues the top 10 players are dealing with, someone needs to step up and assert her authority.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Zvonareva threaten for the top 3 since she didn't do well at any slams last year, so has much points to gain. That and I think she'll win a few of the 6 finals she lost last year. With all the craziness these days, Azarenka in the top 5 wouldn't sound so out of the equation either.

Azarenka already proved she can beat #1 and #2. She'll rise to #1 eventually and supplant Safina (assuming she's still there).

 

[Mick]

darn and i just bought a brand new wilson racquet a week ago.

that's alright, no racquet maker can ever come close to the number of grand slam titles that have been won with a wilson racquet (federer+sampras+williams sisters+connors+evert)

 

[LurkingGod]

At the moment being the #1 ranked WTA player means very little.

That's a bit understatement...

At the moment being the #1 ranked WTA player means very little.:twisted:

WTA is a mess.

 

[soyizgood]

With Serena pulling out of Charleston, Safina ensures she'll be #1 for several weeks. Safina's real test begins with defending her clay points and hopefully adding to them a couple of titles.

 

[hugobosstachini]

At the moment being the #1 ranked WTA player means very little.

None of the girls except from Serena Williams has proven that they can earn their n°1 place. It's always by default, in Safina's case it's because Serena lost but Safina hasn't shown nothing exceptional yet - 2 GS finals 2 loses where she didn't handle both of them quite good !!

For now only Sharapova, Serena and Ana (when she won the FO) has proven that they've earned that place by winning the GS.

Azarenka already proved she can beat #1 and #2. She'll rise to #1 eventually and supplant Safina (assuming she's still there).

Azarenka is in a big form and by winning Mami she showed quite a bit that could win a gran slam. I think she gains to be observed at the french open with a quite shaky Ana.

 

[THERAFA]

How embarassing. If only Martina Hingis were here, she'd never let this happen.

 

[soyizgood]

^^ Hingis was the queen of holding #1 while not winning majors. In the absence of majors, she just piled on tier-1's.

 

[imalil2gangsta4u]

i wish the williams sisters would play more tournaments/ get in shape and ivanovic would get her 2007/early 2008 form back. safina = the new jankovic

 

[imalil2gangsta4u]

or also a henin comeback

 

[THERAFA]

^^ Hingis was the queen of holding #1 while not winning majors. In the absence of majors, she just piled on tier-1's.

Yeah but she didn't play like crap to get number1ranking, she was winning 10 titles per year and never lost before the Semis of Grand Slams. Safina wouldn't even be top 5 in Hingis' era.

 

[grafrules]

Great, an even more bogus #1 than Jankovic. The new worst #1 in womens tennis history.

 

[Bud]

Great, an even more bogus #1 than Jankovic. The new worst #1 in womens tennis history.

Safina didn't gain her current points by playing crappy tennis. Every other girl has the same opportunity.

Get over it.

 

[David_Is_Right]

Every other girl has the same opportunity. Get over it.

Yes, everyone who deems their own opinion about #1 'worthiness' more important than the ranking system, please get over it!

I, for one, am glad we have a simple mathematical points system, not some kind of TW Forum committee that decides #1 based on nebulous 'worthiness' factors like number of slams won, fame, entertainment value, etc.

 

[thejoe]

Deleted post.

 

[Mick]

Safina didn't gain her current points by playing crappy tennis. Every other girl has the same opportunity.

Get over it.

sometimes, she could not get her serves in, like that match against serena williams in the final of the 2009 AO. She served 3 double faults in a row in a game :shock:

 

[a_2c+]

booooooooo

 

[Deleted member 22147]

Safin = 2 grand slam finals when she became number 1.

Jankovic = 0 when she became number 1

 

[Deleted member 22147]

So, it's OK for you but not for him? If nothing else, don't be a self-righteous hypocrite.

There are no prizes for posting on TT :roll:

I know, well said.

I mean, it must be kind of embarassing for those guys who have thousands.

 

[David_Is_Right]

I know, well said.

I mean, it must be kind of embarassing for those guys who have thousands.

That makes no sense. What's embarassing?

I wasn't post-whoring, I was pointing it out those that blatently were. Granted, I should have written a little bit more to protect myself from the same charge.

It's just that there seems to be lots of posts that are just some kind of phonetic 'noise' or nonsense words that have no relevance to the discussion. See below for two examples from this short thread alone...

ugggh Safina

booooooooo

 

[Josherer]

Woah 2nd Russian Woman to reach number 1 ?