Will The Real No.1 Please Stand Up?
Will The Real No.1 Please Stand Up?
Will The Real No.1 Please Stand Up?
With a victory over Francesca Schiavone at the WTA Championships, Caroline Wozniacki was able to secure the year-end world number one position. WTA's Chief Executive Stacey Allaster offered a few positive words about Wozniacki's ranking at the year-end address in Doha, "She is a bright, young, smart, and charismatic star. We are thrilled to have her as number one. She was tested [here in Doha] and she proved why she is deserving of that number one."
While Wozniacki may hold the number one title, there is considerable debate as to whether the 20 year-old Dane truly merits being named the best female tennis player in the world.
Wozniacki's position is being challenged with the criticism that she does not deserve to be ranked number one until she attains a Grand Slam victory. Previously, Jelena Jankovic and Dinara Safina received flak for hitting the top spot without having won a Grand Slam and now, it's Wozniacki's that seems to be the brunt of some criticism.
When Wozniacki's credentials are examined, they fall somewhat short of what one would expect from the number one player in the world.
Wozniacki has only been to one Grand Slam final and one semi-final. Moreover, Wozniacki's head-to-head record with some of the current powerhouse players, like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Kim Clijsters, and Justine Henin, is basically DOA, with her record against the aforementioned foursome being a concerning 0-9.
With lackluster statistics like that, it's not surprising that Wozniacki's number one position is raising a few eyebrows.
However, this is not to say that the tennis prowess of Wozniacki does not still merit some esteem. Wozniacki possesses a renowned fighting spirit, and she did manage to push Clijsters into a third set at the Doha final.
Now, it's hardly Wozniacki's fault that that ranking system thrust her into the top position, but in many ways, it does not appear that there is anything wrong with the current system, which rewards performances away from Grand Slam events in order to make the year-long calendar mean something to the viewers and fans. One aspect that might need tweaking, however, is starting to allocate points for wins over highly ranked players.
A significant factor in Wozniacki's year-end ranking is the fact that in 2010 she played 22 WTA tournaments, and many people view her climbing up in the ranks as remuneration for her commitment to the tour.
This is particularly noteworthy because of the four rival players that were previously mentioned, not one managed more than 15 appearances in 2010 for a variety of reasons, mostly injuries.
The lower number of appearances of these players does not really come as a shock, however, given that all four players are 27 or older, a reality that is also taken into account by the WTA.
Wozniacki may hold the number one position, but the fact remains that the Williams sisters and the Belgians are still the players who continue to be the faces of women's tennis. Allaster may have had this in mind when she said the following in her year-end address: "I think in 2011 you'll see some exciting new marketing programs specifically targeted on the young players who are in that 30 to 50 [ranking] category, the next group of stars." She went on to add, "That's fantastic for us because we need that energy to help market and promote those future stars."
It will be to the WTA's advantage for the effects of this marketing strategy to take root quickly, so as to thwart some of the negative attention that they may receive pertaining to Wozniacki's number one position.
Yet, with no evidence of retirement being on the horizon for the Williams sisters, and the Belgians continuing to be satisfied with a limited schedule, it could take awhile before the new WTA marketing strategy has significant effect.
What are your thoughts on the world's best female player? Do you think the ranking system should be changed or modified? Let us know.
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