LUCIE SAFAROVA TENNIS STAR IS NOW ALSO WTA WORLD NO.1 DOUBLES PLAYER

Lucie Safarova Earns WTA World No.1 Doubles Ranking

The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced today that Lucie Safarova has secured the WTA World No.1 doubles ranking. Safarova becomes the 35th player to hold the No.1 doubles ranking and just the fourth player representing the Czech Republic to reach the pinnacle of the sport – joining Helena Sukova, Jana Novotna and Kveta Peschke.

“I am so proud to have achieved this wonderful honor to become WTA Doubles World No.1,” said Safarova. “I have worked really hard to get here, but I couldn’t have done it without my partner and friend Bethanie Mattek-Sands. She and I have had great success as a team and I wish we could be sharing this honor together.”

Safarova overtakes her partner, Mattek-Sands, after the American sustained a knee injury at Wimbledon. The duo has won 11 doubles titles as a team, of Safarova’s 15 total. Over the last 12 months, Safarova and Mattek-Sands have won three Grand Slams and owned an 18-match winning streak to clinch three titles near the end of the 2016 season. Safarova clinched the top ranking by reaching the semifinals at the Western & Southern Open – Cincinnati this past week alongside compatriot Barbora Strycova.

“Earning the WTA World No.1 doubles ranking is a reflection of Lucie’s talent, positive attitude and tremendous work ethic,” said WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Congratulations to Lucie for achieving this very special accomplishment.”

The new World No.1 has 15 career WTA doubles titles including five Grand Slams at the 2015 Australian Open, 2015 Roland Garros, 2016 US Open, 2017 Australian Open and 2017 Roland Garros (all w/Mattek-Sands). She has also reached the Top 5 in singles and owns 7 WTA singles titles.

Click here to listen to Safarova discuss her rise to the WTA World No.1 doubles ranking, her successful partnership with Mattek-Sands, and share some childhood memories with her new partner for 2017, Barbora Strycova, in the latest WTA Insider Podcast.