Women’s tennis may well have been given the kiss of life by Kim Clijsters’ return to action.
With Justine Henin set to follow suit next year, the future of WTA tennis looks brighter than it has done for some time.
The number one ranking has been changing hands at a ferocious pace over the last 18 months. But who’s been top and when? Find out in our WTA ranking timeline.
14 May 2008
World number one Justine Henin announces her retirement from Tennis
19 May 2008
Maria Sharapova claims the top ranking
9 June 2008
Ana Ivanovic reaches number one in the world after winning her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros
11 August 2008
Jelena Jankovic becomes the second Serb to hold the top spot just two months later
18 August 2008
But Jankovic is knocked back off the top spot just a week later by Ivanovic
8 September 2008
After winning the US Open title, Serena Williams becomes the world number one
6 October 2008
Jankovic regains the top spot and ends the year as number one
2 February 2009
After securing the Australian Open title, Serena Williams regains the top ranking
20 April 2009
Russian Dinara Safina becomes number one in the world despite never having won a Grand Slam
13 September 2009
Kim Clijsters wins the US Open becoming the first wild card entry to ever lift the trophy
22 September 2009
Justine Henin announces that she will be returning to the WTA circuit next year
6 October 2009
Serena Williams overtakes Dinara Safina to reclaim the top ranking for the fourth time