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World No 1 first for Swisscom Challenge final
The Swisscom Challenge is no stranger to world No 1s. In recent
years it has had Jennifer Capriati, Martina Hingis, Lindsay
Davenport and Venus Williams all as No 1 in the Schluefweg Arena,
and before 1997 Steffi Graf dominated in the Saalsporthalle as
the best in the women's game. But for the first time a Swisscom
Challenge final could crown a new world No 1.
If Justine Henin-Hardenne beats Jelena Dokic, she will become
the 13th player to top the list since the women's computer rank
ings began in November 1975. Last weekend she had the same chance
in Filderstadt, losing to the current world No 1 Kim Clijsters.
But after Clijsters' shock defeat against Jelena Dokic in the semi
-finals, Henin-Hardenne will start favourite to take over at the
top. And with just three weeks of the year remaining and Clijsters
the defending champion at the season-ending WTA Championships in
Los Angeles, the French and US Open champion is likely to finish
the year as No 1 and become official world champion.
The Belgian tried to play down the significance of the occasion.
"It's going to be just one more match," she said. "It's a lot of
pressure because a lot of people are talking about it, but if I
don't make it it's not the end of the world. Being No 1 this week
is not a goal for me. It's a goal in my career, but not especially
now."
Though Henin-Hardenne will start favourite against the world No 25,
Dokic is playing sufficiently well this week to keep Clijsters at
the top of the rankings. Dokic played better in beating Clijsters
in her semi-final than Henin-Hardenne did in beating Nadia Petrova.
But to win the title Dokic will have to beat the world No 1 and 2
in successive days, which has only been done once in women's tournaments
in Europe in the past 25 years.
Clijsters said: "If Justine wins the final and becomes No 1, I'll be
happy for her. I've always said that if it had to change, then it
should go to another Belgian. She's had a great year and she's probably
the most improved player on the tour this season."
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