DOHA: Russia’s Dinara Safina pulled out of the WTA Championships here on Wednesday and surrendered the year-end world No. 1 ranking to Serena Williams as a result.
The 23-year-old Safina quit her opening match against Jelena Jankovic in tears after suffering a lower back injury. The emotional pullout came at just 1-1 in the first set and only 13 minutes on court.
Safina went back to the top of the rankings on Monday, but only with a 155 point lead on the American.
Williams won her opener on Tuesday against Svetlana Kuznetsova, to earn 160 points, and was facing sister Venus later on Wednesday.
“It’s really unfortunate. Dinara said she had hurt her lower back,” said Jankovic after the 13-minute match. Safina’s retirement leaves the White Group evenly-poised with Jankovic, Wozniacki and Azarenka all with one win with the top two making the semifinals.
The Maroon Group in the tournament which features the world’s top eight players is made up of the Williams sisters, Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva.
Earlier, Danish teenager Wozniacki marked her WTA Championships debut by saving a match point in a 1-6, 6-4, 7-5 win over Azarenka, who spectacularly pressed the self-destruct button.
Hanescu advances into
St. Petersburg quarters
In St. Petersburg, Russia, second-seeded Victor Hanescu of Romania has beaten Illya Marchenko of Ukraine 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the St. Petersburg Open.
In other second-round matches, Ernests Gulbis of Latvia upset fourth-seeded Jeremy Chardy of France 7-6 (7), 6-3; eighth-seeded Horacio Zeballos of Argentina ousted Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandr Dolgopolov Jr. 6-3, 6-4; and Karol Beck of Slovakia retired because of flu while trailing Bjorn Phau of Germany 6-4, 2-1.
In first-round action, Russia’s Igor Kunitsyn upset seventh-seeded Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-4, 6-3.
Big serving Isner no match for Tipsarevic
In Vienna, American John Isner began his European autumn indoor campaign in disappointing fashion on Wednesday, with the eighth seeded eliminated 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 in the opening round at the Austrian Tennis Trophy by Serb Janko Tipsarevic.
Isner, ranked 39th, found out for the third consecutive event that his big serve is not enough to see him through as he was knocked out in just over 90 minutes.
Benneteau reaches Lyon Grand Prix quarterfinals
In Lyon, France, fifth-seeded Julien Benneteau of France has defeated qualifier Kevin Anderson of South Africa 7-5, 6-2 to reach the quarterfinals of the Lyon Grand Prix. Benneteau broke Anderson’s serve four times on Wednesday.
In other first-round matches, 2006 champion Paul-Henri Mathieu defeated Leonardo Mayer of Argentina 7-6 (5), 6-2 and Belgium’s Olivier Rochus downed qualifier Vincent Millot of France 6-3, 6-2.
