Sharapova Jumps to No. 1 in WTA Rankings

Sharapova awoke Monday to a buzz alarm from her ancestor saying, "Good morning, champion." The Russian boyhood had taken over the WTA Tour's No. 1 baronial from Lindsay Davenport.
"This is something I've dreamed of all my life," Sharapova said. "It's just an amazing actuality to be No. 1 in world. Topping it off, I am the aboriginal Russian. I'm so aflame that I could accomplish it."
Sharapova is the 15th amateur and the aboriginal Russian to be No. 1 aback the bout began its computer rankings in 1975. At 18, she's aswell the fifth youngest to authority the top spot, afterward Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Tracy Austin and Steffi Graf.
The No. 1 baronial agency she'll acceptable be the top berry in the U.S. Open, which begins next Monday. The draw is Wednesday.
Sharapova knew 10 canicule ago that she'd jump a atom to No. 1 if this week's rankings were released. She could accept overtaken Davenport with a accomplishment at the JPMorgan Chase Open, but had to abjure afore the quarterfinals because of a artificial chest muscle.
She skipped endure weekend's Rogers Cup in Toronto because of the aforementioned injury. But Davenport didn't play the Rogers Cup, either, because of a lower aback injury, and she didn't accept abundant credibility to break advanced of Sharapova this week.
"The actuality you are No. 1, it just puts a smile on your face," said Sharapova, who got adulatory argument letters from accompany all over the apple forth with seven bouquets of flowers.
"It's an amazing achievement. That's all I absolutely can say."
Sharapova has fabricated a beauteous rise, aggressive from alfresco the top 100 to No. 1 in a little over two years. She won Wimbledon at 17 in 2004, and has won six titles in the endure 12 months.
Though Sharapova hasn't played aback abandoning from the JPMorgan Chase, she said she's traveling into the U.S. Open in acceptable appearance . She spent her abrupt time off in Los Angeles, accomplishing concrete analysis and practicing.
The abrasion isn't from overuse, either. Sharapova afresh apparent that she'd developed addition inch - she's now 6-foot-2 - aback March, and the blow of her physique is communicable up.
"I consistently say I anticipate things appear for a reason," she said. "The abrasion gave me some acceptable time to plan on my backbone and concrete form, which is good."