http://www.wtatour.com/index.cfm?section=main&cont_id=210044
Henin-Hardenne Ascends to No. 1
October 19, 2003
WTA Tour
Belgian to become 13th No. 1 in WTA Tour history
ZURICH, Switzerland – Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne will cap a stellar last
12 months when she overtakes compatriot Kim Clijsters as the world’s No. 1 on
publication of the new WTA Tour rankings on Monday, October 20, 2002 by virtue
of her 60, 64 title win over Jelena Dokic in the final of the Swisscom
Challenge in Zurich. Henin-Hardenne is the second Belgian in the last 11 weeks
to ascend to the top of the rankings.
“All my life I have dreamed about winning Grand Slams and being No. 1 in the
world. This is a very special day for me and one I will remember forever.
It’s taking a while to sink in now, and I think it will take a few days to
truly realize what has happened here,” said Henin-Hardenne.
Praise from her countrywoman Clijsters quickly followed, “I’m happy for her.
I’ve always said that if the top ranking 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.”
The 21 year-old’s amazing run began with a grueling fitness program under the
guidance of expert Pat Etcheberry in Tampa last December. She started her 2003
Grand Slam campaign with her best Australian Open showing (semifinals), where
she scored her first career win in six meetings over Lindsay Davenport (75, 57,
97) en route. In February, Henin-Hardenne outlasted Monica Seles in a
thrilling three set encounter, saving two match points, to win the title in
Dubai. In April, the Belgian ended then-world No. 1 Serena Williams’ 21-match
unbeaten run in the Family Circle Cup final. Another break-though win followed
in Berlin, where she saved two match points to defeat Clijsters for only the
third time in 10 professional meetings.
All of this culminated in Henin-Hardenne beating the world’s top two players,
first Williams, then Clijsters en route to her first Grand Slam title. Serena
gained revenge in the Wimbledon semifinals, but after that, Henin-Hardenne was
virtually unstoppable, claiming her first title on U.S. hardcourts in San Diego
, then the Canadian Open and her second Grand Slam title at the US Open,
defeating No. 1 Clijsters in the final. Her 22-match win streak (longest for
almost two years) was snapped by Anastasia Myskina in the final of Leipzig
three weeks ago. This season Henin-Hardenne has won more singles titles
(eight) and prize money (US$ 3,277,264) than any other player, male or female.
Henin-Hardenne becomes the 13th woman to ascend to the No. 1 spot since compute
r rankings were first introduced on November 3, 1975, joining the likes of form
er greats Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina
Hingis, and most recently the Williams sisters.
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