Caroline Wozniacki will end 2011 as world number one for the second successive year after Maria Sharapova pulled out of the season-ending WTA Tour Championships.
World number two Sharapova was hampered by an ankle injury as she lost her opening two matches in Turkey and withdrew from the remainder of the tournament, meaning she is unable to overtake Wozniacki at the top of the rankings.
Dane Wozniacki, who is 8/15 with bookmaker to win her final round robin match against Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova on Thursday, said: “It’s amazing for me to finish the year as No.1 once more.
“Very few players have finished a year as No.1 and to do it two years in a row is very special. I’m only in the beginning of my career and to have achieved so much already is a dream come true.”
Meanwhile, Sharapova is pleased with her achievements this year, and hopes to continue to improve in 2012.
She said: “I definitely progressed from last year and I’ve improved, and my game has stepped up. I still feel like going into next year there’s so many things that I can improve that can make me better.”