Russia's Dinara Safina, who will replace Serena Williams as world No 1 later this month despite never having won a Grand Slam title, insists she will prove she belongs on top of the rankings.

The 22-year-old Safina, whose brother Marat was the men's top player in the world in 2000, will replace Williams, who has been on top for 11 consecutive weeks, and 72 in all, on April 20.

"There's no question that while I am very proud of my results over the past year, I would have liked to reach this achievement in a different manner," said Safina, the runner-up to the American at the Australian Open this year.

"I hope to prove to everyone over the coming months that I merit the honor of being world No 1.

"It's a great honor to reach the No 1 ranking and it is a dream that every girl who has ever wanted to play professional tennis shares.

"It is even extra special for me since my brother Marat was able to reach the No 1 ranking and I am happy to share this achievement with him."

Safina is only the second Russian woman, along with Maria Sharapova, to hold the top spot.

Her elevation was announced just after Williams suffered a shock 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 first-round defeat against world No 95 Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic in Marbella.

Safina becomes the 19th world No 1 following Chris Evert, Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, Martina Navratilova, Tracy Austin, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters, Jennifer Capriati, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario, Amelie Mauresmo, Monica Seles, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport, Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic.

Over the past year, Safina has won four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles titles - Montreal, Los Angeles, Berlin and Tokyo and was runner-up five times, including the Australian Open and Roland Garros. She was also a silver medallist at the Beijing Olympics.

Her move up the rankings will represent the first time a brother and sister have been No 1 in the world.

Meanwhile, Williams slumped to defeat in Marbella in her first claycourt outing of the season handing her Czech opponent a first win over a top 10 player since 2003.

Williams had been beaten in the final of the Miami hardcourt event on Sunday when her performance against Victoria Azarenka was severely hampered by a thigh injury which required heavy strapping.

"I am very sad about my defeat," said Williams who again was wearing a bandage on her left leg. "I wanted to play my best tennis but due to my injury I couldn't perform better."

The 26-year-old Zakopalova, a top 30 player in 2006, had only won two of her matches on tour in 2009 before this week and she went into Wednesday's encounter having lost both of her previous meetings with Williams, failing to win a set. Her reward is a second round clash with fellow Czech Renata Voracova.

(AFP via China Daily April 10, 2009)