Posted at 6:56 a.m., Monday, July 9, 2007
Tennis: Venus Williams moves back into Top 20
Associated Press
WIMBLEDON, England — Venus Williams moved back into the Top 20 in the rankings for the first time in a year today, rising to No. 17 thanks to her fourth Wimbledon singles title.Runner-up Marion Bartoli moved from No. 19 to a career-high No. 11, while Amelie Mauresmo, whose title defense ended in the fourth round, dropped from No. 4 to No. 6.
Williams entered the tournament at No. 31 and became the lowest-ranked women's champion at the All England Club. In 2006, she was upset in the third round at Wimbledon and fell from No. 12 to No. 23.
Williams also won Wimbledon in 2000, 2001 and 2005; she was ranked No. 1 in 2002.
Justine Henin stayed at No. 1 despite losing to Bartoli in the semifinals, and was followed by No. 2 Maria Sharapova and No. 3 Jelena Jankovic.
No. 4 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 5 Ana Ivanovic, who both lost to Williams, each moved up one spot. Serena Williams went from No. 8 to No. 7.
There was less significant movement near the top of the men's rankings, in part because No. 1 Roger Federer beat No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final for the second consecutive year.
Semifinalist Novak Djokovic did rise one place to a career-best No. 3, swapping with Andy Roddick. The man who beat Roddick in the quarterfinals, Richard Gasquet, jumped from No. 14 to No. 7, his first appearance in the Top 10.
