Kerber clinches year-end No.1

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that Germany’s Angelique Kerber has secured the year-end No.1 singles ranking.

Since the inception of computer rankings in 1975, Kerber becomes the 12th WTA player to achieve the year-end No.1 ranking and only the second German woman after Stefanie Graf, who achieved this feat a record eight times in her career.

At 28 years old, Kerber became the oldest player to make her debut at No.1 on 12 September, 2016.

She has held on to the top spot for six weeks and is ensured to remain at the top for the rest of the year.

“It is a great honour and achievement to finish the year as the No.1 player in the world,” said Kerber.

“This is one of the things I’ve always been dreaming of – to become No.1. I have worked extremely hard to become the best player I can be and this is a reflection of that effort and the wonderful year I have had.”

Serena Williams – who before Kerber was the world No.1 for 186 straight weeks – clinched the year-end No.1 ranking for the past three years.

Kerber began the season by claiming her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, her first major final.

She then successfully defended her title at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, advanced to the Wimbledon final, captured a silver medal in singles at the Rio Olympics, and claimed her second Grand Slam title at the US Open.

She has made a tour-leading seven WTA final appearances in 2016 and has won the most main draw matches this season, with a record of 59-17.

Her other highlights include reaching finals at the Brisbane International and the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, and the semifinals in Miami, Charleston and Montreal.

Kerber will receive the year-end No.1 trophy at the WTA Finals in Singapore, where she will be the No.1 seed in her fourth appearance at the year-end finale.