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DUBAI: Caroline Wozniacki regained the world number one ranking from Kim Clijsters when she reached the semi-finals of the Dubai Open with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Shahar Peer on Friday.
The top-seeded Dane was obliged to play on an outside court, under the lee of the giant Emirates building, next to a cosy row of trees, and with small spectator terraces containing a few hundred people.
This faraway court was the only place deemed safe for Peer, who last year became the first Israeli woman ever to compete in the UAE and who still requires constant guarding in areas separate from other players.
Now though Peer did not find her best ground stroking rhythm until she was a set and 0-4 down, and although she recovered to within a point of 5-5, Wozniacki's tenacious rallying sealed it.
Clijsters held the top spot for one week after winning the Australian Open last month and reaching the final of the Paris Open last week, and Wozniacki will now cling to the pinnacle at least until after the 12-day Indian Wells tournament which starts March 23.
But the rankings topper claimed she was far from overjoyed by her achievement.
“I've said all along I wasn't sure about whether I could become number one this week, and that my focus really is not upon that.
“For the moment it's more important to concentrate on what I have to do and try to win the tournament."
“I don't know why I started like that,” she said. “I finished better than I started, but I made too many mistakes.”
“I got wonderful treatment here. But it's my dream to come back here and to be able to play on the centre court.”
