Serena also became the first woman to surpass $9 million in prize money in a single season, pushing her career earnings past $50 million. PHOTO: AFP
BEIJING: Serena Williams said yesterday she was not the greatest ever women's tennis player after securing the year-end world number one ranking for the third time in her glittering career.
But the 32-year-old American power-hitter, now on a career total of 55 titles with 17 major wins, told reporters in Beijing ahead of the China Open that she was ‘maybe top five’.
Serena achieved the feat in 2002 and 2009, and joins Justine Henin and Martina Hingis as a three-time year-end number one, with only Steffi Graf (8), Martina Navratilova (7), Chris Evert (5) and Lindsay Davenport (4) ahead of her.
"I'm not the greatest player,” said Serena. “I'm still playing and I'm still trying to reach records. And people like Steffi and Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova and Margaret Court, they are the greatest," she said.
"Maybe top five, but definitely not number one. For me it's an honour to even be mentioned amongst those amazing ladies."
Serena also became the first woman to surpass $9 million in prize money in a single season, pushing her career earnings past $50 million.
She is the top seed in the $5,185,625 China Open, while home favourite Li Na is seeded fourth.
31-year-old Li also received a boost with the news that she has become the fifth player to qualify for the $6 million end-of-season WTA Championships.
Serena, along with Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska – the world numbers one, two, three and four – have already qualified for the WTA Championships.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 28th, 2013.
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