Serena Williams overtakes Monica Seles with most number of weeks at number one

Serena Williams is guaranteed to spend her 178th and 179th weeks at the top of the rankings summit despite her absence at this week’s BNP Paribas Open 2014 Indian Wells. This means that the American has overtaken Monica Seles for fifth place in the all-time list of weeks at number one.

Williams is guaranteed the top ranking until the week starting March 10, 2014. She’s expected to retain the ranking for a few more weeks after that since she’s ahead by nearly 6,000 ranking points to number two Li Na of China.

“I never dreamed of this,” Williams told wtatennis.com. “I remember when I passed her on the Grand Slams list it was really huge for me, because when you grow up watching someone and you’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, oh my God, they’re so awesome,’ to then be on their level is just pretty amazing.

“I never thought it would happen. I never even thought about it, really.”

Williams said that Seles is her favorite player.

“Monica was my favorite player – I think she was pretty much everyone’s favorite player,” she said. “I wanted to be like her. I wanted to do everything like her. I even styled my grunt after hers – I kind of changed it and made it my own. But Monica always inspired me – I’ve always loved Monica.”

Here’s the All-Time Most Weeks At No.1 List:

[1] Steffi Graf (GER) – 377 weeks
[2] Martina Navratilova (USA) – 332 weeks
[3] Chris Evert (USA) – 260 weeks
[4] Martina Hingis (SUI) – 209 weeks
[5] Serena Williams (USA) – 179 weeks (by March 10)
[6] Monica Seles (USA) – 178 weeks

Seles and Williams have competed against each other five times with Williams having a 4-1 head to head series lead over the tennis great.