Barbora Krejcikova becomes first woman to be ranked in the top 2 in both singles and doubles at the same time since Serena Williams in 2010
Barbora Krejcikova ascended to the No. 2 position in the WTA rankings this week following Aryna Sabalenka's loss to Iga Swiatek in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
World No. 2 is the Czech's highest-ever ranking in singles. In doubles, Krejcikova has already been to the very top and is currently placed at No. 2.
Krejcikova's achievement also marks the first time a woman has been ranked in the top two in both categories since Serena Williams more than a decade ago. The 23-time Grand Slam champion reached the top two in doubles between May and August 2010. She was the No. 1 singles player that year from the very beginning until the first week of October (top two until the third week of October).
Krejcikova reached the pinnacle back in doubles in 2018, even ending the year as the No. 1 ranked player. The 26-year-old has since dropped in and out of the spot, falling to as low as World No. 14 in 2019 before returning to the summit again in 2021.
Her Australian Open win at the start of the year with compatriot Katerina Siniakova has now propelled her to the second spot in the rankings behind her partner.
This week, @BKrejcikova has become the first woman to be ranked in the Top 2 in singles and doubles at the same time since Serena Williams in 2010 (during the US Open).
Krejcikova rose to a new singles career-high of No. 2 this week, and she was already No. 2 in doubles.
This happens to be the first time Krejcikova finds herself in the top two in both singles and doubles.
The reigning Roland Garros champion entered the top 50 in the singles rankings for the first time ever only last year, courtesy of her title run in Paris.
Overall, Krejcikova is the ninth woman to achieve this unique milestone in tennis history. The other nine are: Martina Navratilova, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Jana Novotna, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Kim Clijsters, Venus Williams and Serena Williams.
Barbora Krejcikova stands a chance to become the World No. 1 in singles next month
Currently, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty has 7980 ranking points to her name, with Barbora Krejcikova bagging 5073 points. The Czech has a fighting chance to become the top player in singles by the time the Sunshine Double is completed.
If Krejcikova wins the Sunshine Double, she'll be the new world number 1. That's it.
Barty announced earlier today that she will be skipping both the BNP Paribas Open as well as the Miami Open. The Australian is the defending champion in Miami and stands to lose 1000 points at the end of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the points from Indian Wells, where Krejcikova made the fourth round last year, will not drop until October.
World No.1 Ash Barty has withdrawn from the 2022 BNP Paribas Open. https://t.co/nXKWk20ZIP
The reigning French Open champion can therefore reach the No. 1 position by winning the two tournaments, which is no mean feat considering the strong line-up at both events.
Barty will drop 1000 points in Miami but her lead is quite big. Only a Sunshine double from Krejcikova, Sabalenka, Swiatek or Kontaveit would put her #1 in danger.