The World No. 1 will be at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix

STUTTGART, GERMANY – April 10, 2009: As Dinara Safina is in the line-up, it means the new world No. 1 will be at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. The 22-year-old Russian, who will go into the long-established tournament in Stuttgart’s Porsche Arena from 25 April to 3 May as the top seed, will replace Serena Williams (USA) at the top of the WTA world rankings on Monday, April 20.

“Dinara has been playing so well recently that it was only a matter of time as to when she would become No 1,” said Tournament Director Markus Günthardt when talking about the Beijing Olympics silver medalist, who only last week was voted by her fellow players as the “Most Improved Player 2008”. That the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix will be played on clay for the very first time should benefit her. Last year’s French Open held on the clay at Roland Garros saw her go all the way to the final. Markus Günthardt is certain, “Whoever wins our tournament will have to beat Dinara.”

Dinara Safina will be the second Russian to assume the top spot on the world rankings. In doing so she will be continuing a family tradition as her brother Marat Safin was the men’s No. 1. from December 2000 to April 2001.