Ivanovic Returns to No.1

On this week's Monday, August 18 rankings, Ana Ivanovic reclaims the world No.1 ranking, a distinction she will hold for at least the next three weeks. The 20-year old Serb, who held No.1 for nine weeks earlier this year (June 9 to August 10), returns to the top of the rankings by replacing compatriot Jelena Jankovic.
 
Entering the week of the Olympics, three players had a chance to emerge with the No.1 ranking - Ivanovic, Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Both Jankovic and Kuznetsova had a chance at the No.1 ranking if they could reach the finals in Beijing, but an opening round loss to China's Li Na ended Kuznetsova's bid, while Jankovic was eliminated by eventual silver medalist Dinara Safina in the quarterfinals. Ivanovic withdrew from the Olympics with a right thumb injury.
 
This year, Ivanovic has won titles at the Tier I Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells and Roland Garros, her first Grand Slam title. She was runner-up to Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open in January and a semifinalist at two other Sony Ericsson WTA Tour stops in Sydney and Berlin. She is 30-8 on the season and has already secured a place in the singles competition for the season-ending Sony Ericsson Championships, set to take place at the Khalifa International Tennis Complex in Doha, Qatar, from November 4-9, 2008.
 
Ivanovic first burst to prominence in late 2004 in the second round of Zürich, where as a 16-year old qualifier she pushed Venus Williams to two tie-breaks after holding set points in each set. She has steadily risen up to the pinnacle of the rankings since then. Her season-ending ranking has improved from No.705 (in 2003) to No.97 (2004) to No.16 (2005) to No.14 (2006) to No.4 (2007).
 
Since Justine Henin retired and immediately took her name off the rankings, three players have held the No.1 ranking: Ana Ivanovic (the next three weeks will be her 10th through 12th weeks), Jankovic (one week) and Maria Sharapova (three weeks).

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