Li Na To Rise To World #2 Following Opening Round At 2014 Qatar Total Open When New Rankings Are Released

Li Na (click to enlarge)

After 2-time defending champion Victoria Azarenka withdrew from the 2014 Qatar Total Open, all Li Na had to do was show up on court to move from world #3 to world #2. But don’t let that deceive you into thinking her historic rise to #2, the highest ranking ever for an Asian man or woman in singles, breaking her own record of world #3, was not earned. It was truly earned. With a great 2013 fall season followed by winning her first two tournaments in 2014, including her 2nd Major at the Australian Open, her great play put her in position to usurp Vika as the second ranked player in the world. I hadn’t planned on posting about Doha until after the final, but I wanted to note Li Na’s move up the rankings when they are published next Monday. An up and down 3 set win over Magdalena Rybarikova now behind her, it would be great to see Li Na win this event to cement her place in the rankings. However, whether she wins the tournament or not, this could shape up to be the year of Li Na in women’s tennis. Rolex started a short little 8 part video series celebrating Li Na a few months ago. They just completed the series.