Tennis News

News

  • News
  • Australian Open
  • Fixtures/Results
  • Competitions
  • Live
  • Rankings
  • Profiles
  • On Sky
  • Video
  • Sky Bet
  • Get Sky Sports

Safina out, Serena on top

Serena Williams will finish the year as world number one after Dinara Safina was forced to pull out of the Sony Ericsson Championships.

Last Updated: 29/10/09 1:27am

Serena Williams will finish the year as world number one after Dinara Safina pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Championships in Qatar.

The Russian was left in tears when she was forced to retire with a lower back injury at 1-1 in the first set of her clash with Jelena Jankovic

The 23-year-old subsequently announced her withdrawal from the season-ending event in Doha and is now expected to take six weeks off.

She revealed that she had been struggling with the problem for three months but carried on playing to try and remain on top the WTA Tour rankings.

Lengthy lay-off

Safina is hoping surgery will not be required but a lengthy period on the sidelines will put her participation in next year's Australian Open in doubt.

"I've been having pain since (winning) Portoroz (in July)," she said. "I've been using anti-inflammatories to play with this pain for about three months."

Vera Zvonareva takes Safina's place in the event and will face Caroline Wozniacki in the opening match on court on Thursday.

Serena, who began the tournament 155 points behind in the rankings, won her opening match against Svetlana Kuznestova on Tuesday.

The American then made it two wins from two with a 5-7 6-4 7-6 (7-4) result against her sister Venus on Wednesday.

"2009 has been a truly memorable season for me during which I enjoyed some of the biggest wins of my career," she said afterwards.

"Capturing the year-end world number one ranking is a huge accomplishment for me and I am thrilled that all the hard work has paid off."

Also See:

  • Tennis Results
  • ATP Schedule
  • Tennis on Sky
  • Messageboards

Trending

  • 1
    Khan returns with whirlwind win
  • 2
    Jose: Second constitutes success
  • 3
    Sanchez delivers for Man Utd
  • 4
    Was Klopp right to query pitch, ref?
  • 5
    Kell: I'll destroy Khan
  • 6
    Classy Frampton dominates Donaire
  • 7
    Sanchez thanked Wenger over texts
  • 8
    Papers: PSG want Wenger as president
  • 9
    Benn destroys Truman on return
  • 10
    Euro papers: New deal for Ronaldo?
  • Video
  • Latest News
  • Home
  • Sports
    • Football
    • F1
    • Cricket
    • Rugby Union
    • Rugby League
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Racing
    • Darts
    • NFL
    • Motorsport
    • Netball
    • GAA
    • WWE
    • eSports
    • More Sports
    • Winter Olympics
    • Commonwealth Games
    • Joshua vs Parker
  • Score Centre
  • Video
  • TV
  • Sky Bet
  • Games
  • More
    • Transfer Centre
    • Live on Sky
    • Get Sky Sports
    • TV Shows
    • TV Guide
    • Competitions
    • Sky Go
    • Now TV
    • Pub Finder
    • Team Sky
    • Sportswomen
    • Sports Scholarships
    • Clubs in Communities
    • Podcasts
    • Mobile
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Living for Sport
    • Contact Us
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Sky.com
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Sky Sports
    • Get Sky Sports
    • Sky Sports Apps
    • Sportinglife.com
    • TEAMtalk.com
    • Football365.com
    • Team Sky
  • Partners
    • Sky Bet
    • Fantasy Football
    • Super 6
    • Sky Sports Pub Finder
    • Living for Sport
    • Planet Rugby
    • Golf365
    • Planet F1
    • Cricket365
  • Sky Sports Channels
    • Sky Sports Main Event
    • Sky Sports Premier League
    • Sky Sports Football
    • Sky Sports Cricket
    • Sky Sports Golf
    • Sky Sports F1
    • Sky Sports Action
    • Sky Sports Arena
    • Sky Sports News
    • Sky Sports Mix
  • More Sky Sites
    • Sky.com
    • Sky News
    • Sky Corporate
    • Sky For Businesses
    • Now TV
    • Sky Communal TV
    • Sky Academy
    • Bigger Picture
    • Store Locator
    • Work for Sky
    • Advertise With Us
    • Sky TV Accessories
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Accessibility Information
  • Contact Us

©2018 Sky UK