Bay Ledger News Zonebill@blnz.comtag:www.blnz.com,2009:people/monica_selestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/15/Tearful_Serena_becomes_oldest_world_3d68

Serena Williams was in tears on Friday after snatching an historic victory at the Qatar Open which ensured that she would become the oldest woman to hold the WTA Tour's world number one ranking.

2013-02-15T20:36:39ZAFP Global Editionby Richard Eatontag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/02/15/Battling_Serena_becomes_oldest_world_56d8

Serena Williams on Friday became the oldest woman to claim the world number one ranking when she reached the Qatar Open semi-finals with a 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Petra Kvitova.

2013-02-15T20:32:27ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/22/Iron_Djokovic_reaches_last_four_5345

Super-fit reigning champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off the exertions of his five-hour epic with Stanislas Wawrinka as he booked an Australian Open semi-final with David Ferrer on Tuesday.

2013-01-22T12:25:10ZAFP Asian Editionby Talek Harristag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/22/Sharapova_sets_showdown_with_Chinas_0b02

Maria Sharapova set up an Australian Open showdown with China's Li Na Tuesday as she roared into the semi-finals for the record loss of only nine games.

2013-01-22T10:20:52ZAFP Global Editionby Talek Harristag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Djokovic_wins_five-hour_epic_Aussie_36e7

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was dragged into a rerun of last year's epic Australian Open final as he edged a gripping five-hour battle with Stanislas Wawrinka in the early hours of Monday.

2013-01-20T16:37:01ZAFP Global Editionby Talek Harristag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Five-hour_Djokovic_keeps_hat-trick_alive_3414

Defending champion Novak Djokovic was dragged into a rerun of last year's epic Australian Open final as he edged a gripping five-hour battle with Stanislas Wawrinka in the early hours of Monday.

2013-01-20T15:48:42ZAFP Global Editionby Talek Harristag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Record-setting_Sharapova_jets_into_Aussie_e2c8

Flawless Maria Sharapova set a new Australian Open record Sunday in losing just five games en route to the quarter-finals, where she was joined by Agnieszka Radwanska and Li Na.

2013-01-20T10:58:00ZAFP Global Editionby Martin Parrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/20/Flawless_Sharapova_jets_into_Aussie_f1ab

Flawless Maria Sharapova set a new Australian Open record on Sunday in losing just five games en route to the quarter-finals, where she was joined by fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova.

2013-01-20T07:42:25ZAFP Global Editionby Martin Parrytag:www.blnz.com,2009:2013/01/11/Radwanska_crushes_Cibulkova_Sydney_final_07ed

The Agnieszka Radwanska juggernaut ran over hapless Dominika Cibulkova on Friday, as the Pole won the Sydney International to take her unbeaten streak this year to nine ahead of the Australian Open.

2013-01-11T12:03:01ZAFP Global Editionby Robert Smithtag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/09/China_blogger_sorry_Federer_threat_f0ac

A blogger in China who made a death threat against Roger Federer said he had apologised but remained at large after vowing to "assassinate" the world number one, according to an Internet posting.

2012-10-10T03:18:03ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/10/05/Organisers_take_Federer_death_threat_58da

Shanghai Masters organisers said they were taking a bizarre online death threat against Roger Federer "seriously" Friday and pledged to keep the world number one safe.

2012-10-05T07:43:29ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/09/09/Serena_beats_Azarenka_fourth_Open_315a

Serena Williams captured her 15th Grand Slam title and fourth career US Open crown with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 victory Sunday over World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.

2012-09-09T23:40:59ZAFP Global Editionby Jim Slatertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/09/08/Tornado_fear_pushes_Open_womens_ed38

The US Open women's singles final between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka was postponed until Sunday after storm-battered New York was put on tornado watch.

2012-09-08T20:43:55ZAFP American Editionby Dave Jamestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/08/25/Clijsters_serious_about_farewell_title_c863

Three-time US Open winner Kim Clijsters will conclude her career on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts where she enjoyed her greatest glory and she intends to go out as a champion.

2012-08-25T18:48:51ZAFP American Editionby Jim Slatertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/07/07/never_thought_winner_again_says_14ab

Serena Williams celebrated a fifth Wimbledon women's singles title on Saturday and admitted she thought she'd never be a winner again after battling a life-threatening illness.

2012-07-07T19:36:38ZAFP American EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/06/09/Tennis_runner-up_isMaria_Sharapova_292a

Maria Sharapova's French Open championship ceremony hit a low note on Saturday when the newly-crowned Roland Garros champion was introduced as the runner-up.

2012-06-09T16:50:00ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reportertag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/03/07/Sharapova_gunning_another_final_e005

Maria Sharapova says that she is getting close to her best again after a dismal injury-plagued run that saw her drop out of the top 10.

2012-03-08T03:32:46ZAFP Global Editionby Greg Heakestag:www.blnz.com,2009:2012/01/27/Earplugs_ready_its_scream_queen_8d8b

On one side is the 'haaah', and on the other is the 'aaagh', and in between, a bit of tennis. Welcome to the Scream Queen final, where every shot will be heard around the world.

2012-01-28T02:28:35ZAFP Global Editionby Talek Harristag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/10/30/Wozniacki_must_back_statistics_with_6ee5

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Statistically Caroline Wozniacki remains the best female tennis player in the world but the controversy over her number one status showed no signs of abating after her season ended in disappointment at the WTA Championships.

2011-10-31T03:03:43ZReuters US Online Report Sports NewsMartyn Hermantag:www.blnz.com,2009:2011/09/07/Kuerten_Kafelnikov_Capriati_among_Hall_3108

Brazil's Gustavo Kuerten and Russia's first World No. 1, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, were among nine people named Wednesday as nominees for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

2011-09-07T17:31:54ZAFP Global EditionBy Staff Reporter