Women’s tennis is guaranteed to have a new world No.1 following the Australian Open after Caroline Wozniacki’s 67-week reign came to an end on Tuesday.
Defending champion Kim Clijsters’ 6-3 7-6 quarter-final victory over Wozniacki left Czech Petra Kvitova, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka and Russian Maria Sharapova in a three-way battle for the top spot.
Azarenka is already through to the Open semis after beating Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 6-7 (0-7) 6-0 6-2 on Tuesday, while Kvitova and Sharapova need to win their quarter-finals to stay in the race for No.1.
Sharapova plays unseeded countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova on Tuesday night, while Kvitova faces unseeded Italian Sara Errani on Wednesday.
Kvitova still has the inside running, but Azarenka and Sharapova are both also assured of top spot if they lift the trophy in Melbourne on Saturday night.
The second-ranked Kvitova could rise to No.1 if she makes the final and loses to Clijsters, who plays Azarenka in the semi-finals on Thursday.