Lucie Safarova captures WTA Doubles World No.1 ranking
CINCINNATI, OH, USA - Lucie Safarova was confirmed as the new the WTA Doubles World No.1 on Monday.
Safarova learnt the news last week after her and partner Strycova beat the Aussie duo of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua in the quarterfinals of Cincinnati. The victory meant that Safarova, previously ranked No.2 in doubles, would rise to World No.1.
The pair won in straight sets, despite weathering a lengthy rain delay at 6-3, 5-5 that called off play for the night. Coming back the next day, Safarova and Strycova wrapped up the 6-3, 7-6(4) victory after an hour and 27 minutes on court.
The No.3 seeds were subsequently beaten 7-6, 6-2 by eventual champions Martina Hingis and Chan Yung-jan in the last four.
Safarova becomes the 35th player to hold the No.1 doubles ranking, and the fourth player representing the Czech Republic - joining Helena Sukova, Jana Novotna and Kveta Peschke - when rankings are released Monday, August 21.
The Czech leapfrogs her former partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who held the top ranking since January but has been out of competition since sustaining a knee injury at Wimbledon.
With Mattek-Sands, Safarova claimed two Grand Slams in 2017, the Australian Open and French Open, as well as a Premier title in Charleston and a semifinal appearance in Indian Wells. With Strycova, Safarova reached the quarterfinals in Birmingham and has now made back-to-back semifinals in Toronto and Cincinnati.
