Highlights

Wozniacki dethrones Serena to claim top spot

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-07 22:30

BEIJING - Caroline Wozniacki became the first Danish tennis player to be crowned world number one when she beat Czech Petra Kvitova 6-3 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open on Thursday.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark kisses the women's world number one trophy after defeating Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic in their third round match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing October 7, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]

The 20-year-old dethroned American Serena Williams, who has not played since winning her 13th grand slam title at Wimbledon in July, when Kvitova smacked a service return into the net.

A jubilant Wozniacki held her arms aloft in celebration as Tina Turner's hit "Simply the Best" blasted out of the PA system in Beijing's Olympic tennis centre.

"Being number one has always been a dream for me," a beaming Wozniacki told the cheering crowd after being presented with a an oversized number 1 made of flowers.

The Dane become the 20th woman to top the standings since their inception in 1975. However, Wozniacki is the third player in the last two years to have reached the pinnacle of tennis without winning one of the four grand slam titles.

Serbia's Jelena Jankovic and Russia's Dinara Safina are still without a major title despite topping the rankings in 2008 and 2009 respectively.