FEB. 10 • Kim made an emphatic return to No.1, starting slowly against Jelena Dokic then absolutely steamrolling (6-3 6-0) to reach the semis of the Open GDF SUEZ and secure herself the top spot come Monday.
It is not clear whether or not Caroline Wozniacki was in front of the TV this evening, but the Danish youngster will have to hand over her crown to Kim after the Belgian's impressive win over Jelena Dokic. Kim, who became world number one for the first time in her career back in 2003, regains her throne after a five-year absence. With daughter Jada proudly watching on, Kimmy became the first mother to reach the top of the WTA rankings.
It goes without saying that, given the circumstances, this was no ordinary match. Kim said at the beginning of the week that the number one spot was not a priority, and she was second best in the early stages of the match. The Belgian was broken in her first service game and trailed 3-0 to Dokic, playing fiercely and with a hunger to win every point. However, qualifier Dokic, competing in her sixth match of the week, started to make too many unforced errors. Showing remarkable composure, Kim devoured points and pounced on her Australian opponent like a predator on its prey. Within the space of 15 minutes, she found herself 4-3 up against the former world number four.
By snuffing out the challenge of such an aggressive opponent in just a few seconds, Kim showed the mark of a true champion. The 5-0 score line was fast becoming a humiliation for Dokic, a player who had performed so heroically all week. A few world-class strokes hinted that she is deserving of a higher ranking than her current 120, but for the most part she was reduced to a spectator. The scoreline was fast becoming uncomfortable and the Stade Coubertin crowd began to show their sympathy and get behind Dokic. Ultimately, it made little difference and Kim proved simply unplayable. The Belgian stormed through the remainder of the match, racking up twelve games in a row on her way to winning 6-3 6-0 in 51 minutes.
With the Tina Turner hit 'Simply the Best' ringing out, Kim received a commemorative trophy from Amélie Mauresmo, herself a former world number one. 'Thank you, I will try in French,' Kim said as she addressed the crowd. 'I'm really happy to become the new world number one here. It's not Belgium but it's pretty close. The last time I became world number one was in Los Angeles, so it's good to do it here in Europe.'
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