Once Wimbledon Championships reach the finish line, a new update of the WTA official ranking will take place. After yesterday's matches at Wimbledon, one thing is sure - there will be a new world no. 1 in women's tennis as Karolina Pliskova will surpass the current holder of the spot, Angelique Kerber.
With Simona Halep failing to reach the semis of the singles contest, the Czech player is set to take women's tennis into her hands. Amid controversy about the outcome, one thing needs to be remembered - the WTA Tour and its ranking system reward consistency instead of one-time achievement.
Building a player's ranking status, the equation takes into account everything from the past twelve months.
Simona Halep failed against Johanna Konta
Simona Halep, the Romanian tennis star had the first spot in her sights as she faced Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals. She needed that win in order to get past Kerber in the ranking but failing to do so basically handed the crown to Pliskova. The 25-year-old Czech made no headlines at Wimbledon Championships as she was upset by Magdalena Rybarikova in a second round shocker.
Halep and Konta put in a thrilling encounter that required three sets to decide a winner. The opening act went on a tie-break where Konta failed to deliver. So did the second act but this time it was Konta who had the stronger nerves.
A single break of serve in the third set ensured Konta a spot in the semis of Wimbledon for the first time in her career simultaneously ending Halep's bid for the world no. 1 spot. It's the second time in a matter of weeks that Halep failed to seize the opportunity to become the highest ranked player in the WTA professional circuit.
Karolina Pliskova's best results of the last twelve months
What truly helped Pliskova in her quest to become the world no. 1 was the lack of points to defend entering Wimbledon. Back in 201, following that early-round exit at Wimbledon despite having a good warm-up session, Pliskova focused on the North American hardcourt swing.
She won the title in Cincinnati ( her first Premier 5 ) while at the US Open she was a runner-up to Angelique Kerber beating Serena Williams along the way.
Her good shape on the hardcourt extended even further allowing her to win in Brisbane just before the Australian Open. She went on to win in Doha while at the Indian Wells and in Miami she made it to the semis, the same phase where she stopped at the French Open. That great deal of consistency is what puts her at the top of the ranking. Despite all the critics and controversies about her lack of success in Grand Slams, she will be the new world no. 1 next Monday.
