Serena back at no.1
Holders Roddick, Jankovic eliminated
Serena Williams put herself back on top of the world with a routine win at the China Open yesterday but Andy Roddick and Jelena Jankovic plumbed the depths when their title defences ended in their opening matches.
Williams’s 6-3 6-2 second-round victory over Russian Ekaterina Makarova means she will replace Dinara Safina as world no.1 when the rankings are issued next week, ending the Russian’s controversial 25-week reign.
Her fellow American Roddick, however, was humbled 6-2 6-4 by Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot, while Serbian Jankovic, nursing the wrist injury that forced her to retire from the final of last week’s Pan Pacific Open, lost 4-6 7-5 6-2 to China’s Peng Shuai.
Safina’s defeat to 226th-ranked wildcard Zhang Shuai on Monday had left the way open for Williams to return to the number one spot and she never looked like blowing her chance.
The second seed was broken in her first service game and made a meal of her last but converted her fourth match point to seal the victory, raising a single finger in the air in celebration of her return to the top.
“I’m really excited,” said the 28-year-old.
“Obviously I’m happy to be there because I’ve worked so hard this year to get there. I think I’ve earned it.”
Men’s third seed Roddick never really came to terms with Kubot’s serve and the Pole’s fifth ace of the match ended the world no.6’s reign as China Open champion.
Jankovic, seeded eighth, started well against Peng but looked to have run out of steam when the twice China Open semi-finalist forced a third set.
Maria Sharapova, who was handed her first title since her return from injury when Jankovic withdrew in Tokyo last Saturday, mounted a sensational fighback from 5-2 down in the third set to beat ninth seeded Victoria Azarenka 6-3 6-7 7-5.