Sports · Tennis · 2 hrs ago
Lindsay Davenport becomes world No 1 for the first time
On October 12, 1998, American tennis player Lindsay Davenport became world No 1 for the first time.
She reached the final of the Porsche Open in Filderstadt, Germany, but lost to Sandrine Testud in straight sets.
The ranking change came after the defending champion, Martina Hingis, lost in the quarter-finals.
A few weeks earlier, Davenport had won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open by beating Hingis in the final.
Her rise to No 1 capped a strong season and made her the top-ranked player in women’s tennis.
Davenport held the top spot for a total of 98 weeks.
She later won Wimbledon in 1999 and the Australian Open in 2000.
Lindsay Davenport became the women’s world No 1 for the first time on October 12, 1998.
The 22-year-old American reached the top of the WTA rankings after a strong season that included her first Grand Slam title.
She won the 1998 US Open by defeating Martina Hingis in the final.
Davenport lost to Sandrine Testud in the Porsche Open final in Filderstadt, but still rose to No 1 the following week.
She later held the top ranking for 98 weeks and won two more Grand Slam singles titles.
- Who
- Lindsay Davenport, a 22-year-old American tennis player.
- What
- She became world No 1 for the first time.
- When
- October 12, 1998.
- Where
- The ranking change followed the Porsche Open in Filderstadt, Germany.
- Why
- Martina Hingis lost in the tournament’s quarter-finals, while Davenport reached the final; the result was enough for Davenport to take the top spot.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
I never grew up thinking that I could be the best in the world, or one of the most successful players, and it managed to happen.
Davenport won her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Martina Hingis in the final.
Davenport became world No 1 for the first time after reaching the Porsche Open final.
- Age
- 22
- Ranking milestone
- First time at world No 1
- Date
- October 12, 1998
- Porsche Open final
- Lost to Sandrine Testud, 7-5, 6-3
- First Grand Slam title
- 1998 US Open
Sources
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